CASUALTIES.
A bathing fatality occurred in the upper harbour on Saturday. Mr Henry Rait, a .young man about 20 years of age, clerk in the South British Insurance office, hired a boat at the jetty late in the afternoon and rowed off alone. He first changed his clothes, leaving in the boat house those he was weaving, together with his watch and chain, and putting on a rowing suit. He took with him in the boat a towel, a small Gladstone bag, and a paper parcel. Early on Sunday morning the boat was found by a settler named Challice on the other side oE the harbour near Mr Turnbull's residence. It had not been upset, and in it were the clothes, a towel unused, and a Gladstone bag, but no parcel. The boat was brought bick, but, strange to say, the police were nob communicated with until Sunday evening. There can be little doubt that the unfortunate young man carried out his intention of bathing and was for some reason unable to regain his boat. Search was made for the body on Monday, but without success. The police dragged the harbour at various places where it was thought the body might be lodged, and the bays and points on both sides of the harbour were visited. It is feared there is little chance of the body being recovered for some days. The body of John Whiteside, a baker, was found in the Avon at Christchurch ou Friday morning. He was last seen alive on Wednesday night, and was then sober. He lived unhappily with his wife, and had previously attempted to commit suicide. About 3 p.m. on Friday, William Harding, a stableman at Delamain's stables, Christchurch ; wks killed by being kicked in the breast by a horse which he was harnessing. He leaves a wife and several children.
A child named Hilda Ross, three years of age, was accidentally scalded to death on Saturday at Mitchelltown, near Wellington, A little boy (21 mouths old), the son of Mr Glyne, of Rangitata, was drowned on Thursday in a well behind the residence of his parents.
On Sunday afternoon one of the Lower Harbour fishing boats (m which were three men named Whittaker, M'Kenzie, and Renier) while crossing the bar under sail was struck by a heavy sea, swamped, and overturned. Luckily another boat, owned by J. Leonard, followed them, and succeeded in picking up the crow of the first boat, all of whom were greatly exhausted. One of the men (M'Kenzie) was nearly prostrated, aud up to yesterday evening was in a very weak state. No trace of the boat has since been found. On Saturday afternoon a little girl named Amy Richards, about seven years of age, fell over a cliff at Parnell (Auckland), and was killed instantly, her brains being dashed on the rocks below. The child had been playing in company with her elder sister, and in endeavouring to reach some Christmas flowers on the edge of the cliff fell. • A lad named Flood, son of G. F. Flood, of the Helensville Hotel, Auckland, was poisoned on Saturday by eating tupaki berries. Inspector Thomson has received a telegram from Constable Cullinayeof Pahiatua (Auckland), as follows:—" A man named JohnDorandiedsuddenly about five miles from Pahiatua on Monday. Ho was in company with four other men setting fire to the bush. They tried to bring the body with them, but were prevented by fire, and were obliged to leave the body." . A young man named David Logue was drowned near Fortrose on Saturday while attempting to cross the river.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18880210.2.63
Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 22
Word Count
599CASUALTIES. Otago Witness, Issue 1890, 10 February 1888, Page 22
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