PAPAROA.—SAD ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1444, 4 July 1868, Page 4

PAPAROA.—SAD ACCIDENT.

(FitOM OUll OWN CORRESPONDENT.) June 25. , Last weok was marked by a melancholy event which will bo long remembered iu this settlement. Mr. Jcsbo Daviß, assisted by George Kirk, a youth about 16, son of Mr. Kirk, tho scientific botanist, were bringing up a punt load of shells from tho township on Wednesday evening. Not having reachdd homo the following morning, suspicion was excitod which led to the discovciy of the punt, sunk about o aiile from tho" placo whero the shells ware procured. On the following day both tho bodies wera found and brought to the settlement.

On Tuesday last Dr. Bell held an inquest, when a verdict according to the above stated facts was agreed to, with the addition of a rider to tho effect that in the opinion of the jury " there was very generally too much carelessness in the use of flatbottomed boats." It ought, however, to be stated that in this case, as proved by the evidence, tho sad loss is to be attributed to the leaky state of the punt. At the funeral, which took placo immediately niter tho inquest, the Rev. W. Gittos conducted the service. Mr. Davis leaves a widow and three young children. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk, residing in Auckland, could not ot the time of the funoral have received any intelligence of their sad bereavement. Mr. Channon was tho principal witness at the inquest, be having last seen them alive, and boon the first to discover the bodies.