THE BOATING ACCIDENT ON THE FLAT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 11 February 1908, Page 3

THE BOATING ACCIDENT ON THE FLAT.

To ttaJJditor. , Sir,— rWill you kindly give space for the following explanation in regard to the boating mishap which occurred on Sunday afternoon. And about which Bome -misapprehension concerning the motive of the eldest member of the crew leaving the two younger on the upturned boat, while he Bwam ashore, soems to 'exist. We wish to state that at no time were vre (the crew) in any danger, as we, by waiting some fifteen minutes, could have all walked ashore; but we did not wish to leave the craft to bump on the bottom, and sp waited until the tide would permit us to leave her in safety. Noticing^ birthe} Wakapuaka ■ ftoad', several ladies in a state of great concern' over our supposed peril, the eldest member of our crew decided to .SWim ashore -and r.r-ure them of our safety; also "to assure the parents of one of the -lads of thoir son's safety. They reside on the Wakapuaka Eoad, and saw the mishap occur, and as the 'mother is ' father delicate, every moment. of anxiety might have been very .injurious to her ; Fortunately their implicit confidence in the owner of the boat had prevented them feeling any degree of uneasiness on their son's account. Now,.. Sir, some people have mistaken this simple act of consideration for a cowardly desertion of the younger by the elder; therefore we ask you to give space in your yaluable, papet for this correction (to some minds) a" very natural mistake. We would also like to thank those ladies (to us unknown) for their sympathetic efforts to obtain assistance for us in our supposed, danger. Thanking you in anticipation, We are. etc.,