RIVER ACCIDENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6379, 26 October 1888, Page 4

RIVER ACCIDENT.

LOSS OF FIVE LIVES. £Peb Pbess Association.] INVERCARGILL, Oct. 25. A lamentable accident occurred this morning at Mataora Island, in the river of that name. A man named Andrew MTarlane, a ploughing contractor residing at Edendale, having got employment at the Otara Dairy Factory, near Fortrose, •started with a two-horse team for his new (location yesterday, taking with him his rnousehold effects, his wife and child, and jMs wife's brother and sister, together with * boy who had been living with him. They reached the island in the afternoon, crossing the main coarse of the river on the bridge. The other branch of the stream in. -ordinary circumstances is shallow, and no bridge is 'provided, but leavy rains had made it dangerous to cross* M'Fariane, after trying the ford, remained on the island all night. Mr Spratt, a farmer there, advised him not to attempt to pursue Ms journey that way, jbut to return and cross the river at Wyndham bridge. M'Fadane demurred rto this detour of twenty miles, and early Mas morning entered the river at the ford. The team had only advanced a few yards when one wheel dropped into a iole. The dray swung round, and the occupants, seated among the furniture, which was :Jiafc secured, "were swept into thexiver. £Ehe lad slipped ont of the dray on to a 4x>x, on which he safely floated to a point ,»bout a quarter of a mile below, where he ;;£ot ashore. The occurrence was not witnessed by anyone from the- banks, but jbb none of the other five occupants of the <dray have been seen since, it is almost Certain that all are drowned. The dray *lid.not capsize, and the leader. -dragged it and the drowned-.shaf ter oub-of >the-*rver. ;Nane d #he Jbodiea-JbaYe-Sjet. -been.