MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume VII, Issue 1840, 7 December 1869, Page 4

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT.

DHOWNING OF ME. READ AND ANOTHER SI AN. We aro indebted to Captain W. Lloyd, of ihe cutter Pollj, for the particulars of the subjoined melancholy accident :— " Cutter Polly, " Wangarei Heads, Sunday, Dec. 5. " I am sorry to to communicate to you tbat Mr. Head, of Taihiruru, lost his life by drowning, in company with another man named Henry , belonzing to Guernsey, at the hour of forty-five minute 3 part two p.m. yesterday. The following are the particulars of the accident: —Mr. Head and the seaman Henry left the vessel for shore in a small boat, and when only a few yards from ehoro, the seaman stood up in the boat, and with an osr struck at something in the water, which proved to be a large shoal of black fish and killer—he then re3umed Mb seat to pull to the shore, but in an instant the boat was thrown completely out of the water; the seaman being thrown head first, whs seen to rise no more. The boat being bottom upwards Mr. Keid succeeded in getting on top of the boat, and the vessel being got underweigh, I succeeded in throwing Mr. Head a rope three or four times, and he, fearful to let go the boat, although the rope was by his hands (and I entreated him to take hold of the rope and I would save him), diifted on with the current

—it being very strong at the time—and losing | his hold of the boat, sank for the last time. " Having pot the immediate assistance of Ifr. Aubrey, the Magistrate, and his eons, they used their greatest endeavours in making a search, but nothing could be picked up except a water-keg they had taken ashore with them. I "W. Lloyd, Master." i WESLEYAN HOME MISSION - , i The annual meeting in aid of this fund —held in connection with the District Conference of the Northern Division of New Zealand —was held last evening in the New Wesley Church, Pitt-street,Captain J. Stone in the chaix;. There were present on the platform, the Bev. Mr. Buller, Rev. Mr. Buttle, Bev. Mr. Watkins (New Plymouth), Bev. Mr. Rowse, Rev. J. Berry, Rev- J. Law, Rev. Mr. Simmonda (Waikato), Bev. Mr. | Harper, Bev. Mr. Laurie, Bev. Mr. Deane, Rev. Mr. Scb.nackenbu.rgh, and other clergymen and friends of the cause. The Kev. J. Berry read the annual report. The Hev. Mr Buller gave an interesting account of Ma recont visitation to the various districts. He paid a high compliment to the Bev. Mr. Gittos and the Rev. Mr. Schnackenburgh on tlie success of their missionary labours among th 9 Maori race. The Rev. Mr. Bowse, the Rev. Mr. Watkins, the Bev. Mr, Harper, the Rev. Mr. Sminonda, addressed the j mesting. The annual report was unanimously adopted, and a resolution was also adopted pledging the meeting to use every effort to maintain and extend the Home Missions. A committee wo-- appointed for the ensuing year. The following gentlemen were ai'pointedjmembersof the committee:—Messrs. T. Kuasell, Prime, Rowe, Barrell, Shera, Fletcher, Vorcoe, Edson, Griffiths, J. Wilson, C. J. Stone, Welsman, and tho ministers of the district. We are obliged, owing to press of matter and thn lateness of tho hour at which the meeting concluded, to hold over our report.