LAST NEWS FROM MURIWAI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10509, 31 July 1897, Page 5

LAST NEWS FROM MURIWAI.

FATE OF THE CARPENTER'S BOAT.

A SURVIVOR'S STORY. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES. The latest news (com Muriwai states that three of the iurtivors of the fcapiiied carpebter's boat art W, Jones, son of a carter ati Makaraka, Poverty Bay; Alexander Beits; whose father (Chkrle* Bdtts) is a milkman in Auckland; and Mcßitchife, one of ttii boat's crew. Jones, on being interviewed, skid that Wire were eight of them in this boat, which was a dingy, and after they left the ship they stayed in the vicinity for three hours. Then, migsirig the other boats, they started off and cruised about all night. The little craft was badly buffotted by the heavy Mas, add as they only had one pair of rowlocks the task of navigating her became very severe. Their endurance at kit give oat, and being in a state of collapse, they decided to, if possible, run her ashore. ißy this time they were being driven on to land, a few miles south of Young Nick's Head, which is the southernmost point of Poverty Bay, although they were at the time unaware of thfeir exaot position. As the boat tinted the Shore it Was found qtiite Impossible, with only two pskddles, and the men so exhausted, to retain command of the dingy, and When she got into the breakers she at dried turned turtle, and her crew were precipitated into the water. The two men who were drowned, Jones thinks, could swim, and were dashed to death on the tacks. He himself had a great struggle for life, and was severely bruised on the lido. the steward, Betts, was also badly knocked About, and has a nasty gash on his eye. After landing on the 'beach, sometime After nine o'clock, the Six survivors started to walk over the hills in the direction of a settler's named Bartlett, but several of them were So exhausted that they had to be left behind, and were subsequently picked up by Dixon, the Nlihaka mailman, and conveyed into Woodbine Johnston's. Betb had much difficulty in reaching the latter place, but is now reported to be recovering. Jones is unable to give the name of the men who were drowned.