A MATE DROWNED.

Colonist, Issue 1165, 4 December 1868, Page 2

A MATE DROWNED.

The Grey River Argus, of November 3, says:— "On Saturday morning, October 31st, at seven o'clock, the p.s. Persevere left this port bound for Hokitika with twenty tons of coal, and while crossing the break on the bar, the mate, named John Jones, foil overboard, and was drowned. He was engaged in loosening the foresail, when the vessel gave a lurch, and it it is supposed that the galf struck him and he fell overboard. He was struck on the head by one of the floats of the paddle-wheel, and although every effort was made by the master to recover him, he sunk before he could be picked up. In the afternoon the body was thrown up on the beach, and conveyed to the Boatman's Arms, on the North Spit, where an inquest was held in the evening by Mr. Warden Dutton, when the following verdict was returned :— ' That the deceased was accidentally drowned by falling overboard.' The deceased was one of the first members of the Society of the Sons of Temperance in Liverpool, wher# on* of thy first branches of that

body was established, and twenty years, ago he was-a member of a Rechabite Tent -in Liverpool, but on coming to the colonies he ' ran out of compliance,' and rejoined the order in Greymouth, on the 25th July, 1867. "Was elected the first Chief Ruler of the Rechabite Tent here, and ranked as Past Chief Ruler when he was drowned. He was buried on Sunday, the funeral cortege being one of the largest that as ever assembled^ G-reyinouth." . . -