PORT WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 494, 13 June 1865, Page 4

PORT WAIKATO.

VESSELS IN lIA KB OUR. .Tcne 10. An Rovoir, brigautino, bound for Cn3b.unga; ready f' r sea. Avon, hu!k. Dart, cutter. Kate, barrpie, discharging. Little Fred, schooner, bound for Kaip.ira ; ready for sea. Moutoa, Colonial steamer. Prince. Alfred, Colonial steam'.r. Ringariri, Colonial steamer. Start, Colonial steamer. White Slave, Colonial steamer. ENTERED INWARDS. .ITJ.VF. <t—Rangariri, Colonial steamer, from tho Bluff - —Gymuotus, steam-canoe, from up-river sta ions. s—Prince Alfred, p.s. from Taranaki, for coal, o—Dal-, cutter, from Huchungi, with general cargo, consigned to W. J. Young, and K. do Tremerl'eno. B—Rangariri, Colonial steamer, from the Bluff !)—Sturt, Colonial p.s , trom trial trip to the Bluff. !t —-Waipa, s., from up-river stations. 10—White Slave, Colonial s.s., from the Bluff. CLE ABED OUTWARDS. JI-NE 4—Rangariri, Colonial steamer. (i—Boueta, cutter, Gardener, lor Onehunga, in ballast. B—Gymuotus, Hteam-canoo, from up-river stations. B—Sturt, Colonial p.s., on u tvial trip to tho Bluff with a barge of Commissariat supplier in t-.w. 9—White blare, s.s., from the Bli.il'. FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR PORT WAIKATO. I regret to have to report aa accident of a most distressing and f.ila] nature which occurred a short distanc: up toe river yesterday morning (tllli inst.), the circumstances being shoitly as follows:—A whale-boat with a crew of four mon, and one passenger (Mr. Ellis), tdarttd from tho township about, li o'o'ock a m. it (bring then nearly high water), for the Bluff, tho wo liber very unsettled, with heavy squalls. When near to Ivohaug.i the boat was struck by a sudden squill widen carried away tho fail, capsized her, and.precipitated the whole party into the river. The men clung 1o tho bo it, but owing to iti rolling over thorn thoy wore obliged to quit their hold without boing able to right her. In tho struggle to reach the shore which en-uod, oils of tho crew named 'J'alacci, an Italian, employed on the Colonial Government work*, was drowned, the remaining lour being fortunate enough, to m ike goodthoir footing on a ":ank about two feet un ler ■water, wheie they wero obliged to remain till tho tide fell sufficiently to enablo them to reach the thjre.

in pnfotv. ■ Tho doera-ed was a young man of very sloadv and inofT-nsive habits, and was much liked bv his fellow-workmen; being an excellent swimmer it is conjectured 1 he must Jiayo been seized with cramp, as ho was heard to cry that " he was going," almost as soon as tho party forsook the boat. The first intimation of tho disaster which reached hero was afforded by tho sail and one oar which was picked up floating near tho township about 1 o'clock, aad a boat was prepared to go in search of tho p.irty, as the worst fears wore entertained for their safetv ; before it could bo despatched, however, the survivors had arrived, in a pitiablo state from their long exposure in the water. This sad event has created a great sensation hero, and shows the danger of forwarding mails, &0., up tho river in open boats at this season of tho year. The result, in this instance, has been tho loss of one life, the jeopardising of four others, and flifl loss of two mails and all the luggage belonging to tho passenger (Mr. Ellis). Talaeci's body has not yet been recovered. The Rangariri in making for her berth on Wednesd iv night came in contact with tho bowsprit of the Kato, barque, lying at anchor in the stream, and has injured her funnel considerably, besides breaking her safety valve. She is now being repaired. The Kato sustained very little if any injury by the collision. The Sturt's repairs being eomoletod, started for a trill trip to tho Bluff on Wednesday evening, lowing a barge of Commissariat supplies, and returning the following day, her performance giving very great satisfaction. The s.s. Mout.oa is also ready for her trial trip which will most likely como off to-day. This boat is as I remarked on a former occasion admirably adapted for the passenger traffic on this river, but her very perfection in that respect will bo a serious drawback to her on her passage to her destination, which I believe is tho Palea river, her draught of water is so light that tho heavy seas sho is sure to encounter at this season, will prove a serious obstaolo to her safety. Bets at long odds havo been laid by good judges of such matters that she founders if sho encounters heavy weather rrrhum sap. Could not her departure be deferred (if she must go) till noxt. spring ? Potter tho delay than risk a number of lives.— From our otai Corrr*pt»i<li'iit,