NARROW ESCAPE OF MR. ROLLESTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7007, 2 May 1884, Page 5

NARROW ESCAPE OF MR. ROLLESTON.

\VT TELEGBAPH. —PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] . Wellisgton, Thursday. A Pbivate telegram received here states that the Hon. Mr. Kolleaton, who is travelling overland from Canterbury to Blenheim, narrowly esoaped drowning in the Wairau River. The party, it is stated, were fording the river in a buggy, which capsized, and Mr. Rolleston had great difficulty in reaching the river'e bank. Ohbisichubch, Thursday. A serious accident occurred to the Hon. Mr. Rolleaton late on Tuesday afternoon. As the coach, a kind of double-seated buggy, entered a ford leading across the Waiao River towards St. Helens Station,. the seat came out with a jerk, caused by a sudden 'drop from the cutting into the river, and the driver, the Minister for Lands, and Mr. W. A. Low, of St. Helens, were pitched over. The driver soon recovered his seat. Mr. Low after a little while 'scrambled on to the pole, and finally mounted one of the wheels; but Mr. Rolleeton was carried against the wheels and rolled over and over under the water. Luckily, after some anxious moments, during which the other occupants of the coach, Mr. MoKerrow, the Surveyor-General, and a Christchurch gentleman, who was visiting the hot springs, experienced the uncomfortable sensation of seeing a man drowning almoet within reach, whom they were unable to help, Mr. Rollestou came to the surface, and made his way to the bank the coact had just left. Thence the driver brought him safely over on one of the coach horses, and the hon. gentleman suffered nothing worse than a very coid bath lasting an uncomfortably long time, and all under water. His escape was a very narrow one, and as may, perhaps, be remembered, is the second experience of a -similar character the Minister for-Lands has had within a year or two. On the last occasion Mr. Bryce was with him near Parihaka, and had even a narrower eicape. _