BOATING ACCIDENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6596, 21 September 1899, Page 4

BOATING ACCIDENT.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 20. When coming up the harbour late last night the steamer To Kapu picked up a light skiff half full of water. It was at first thought that the boat had broken away from its moorings, but the discovery of a body this afternoon. placed the find in a serious light, as it gave indications of a fatal boating accident having occurred in the harbour. The body was that of a woman, apparently about twenty-five years of age, and was found on the Ngahauranga beach. It was subsequently identified as that of Mrs Allan Loxton, wife of an architect in the employ 'of Messrs Clere, Fitzgerald and Richmond, a well-known firm here. Mr H. Huffamv, a well-known boatman, states that a young couple hired the boat from him about six o'clock last night. He saw no more of them, but later on, becoming anxious for hiß boat, and thinking that the man might have tied the boat at one of the wharves, he went out searching for an hour without success. This morning he heard that the boat had been picked up. v Mrs Loxton was a daughter of Chief Judge Davy, of the "Native Land Court, and sister-in-law of Mr B. M. Mollineaux, manager of the Bank of New South Wales, and Dr Prenaergast Knight. The police are now searching the shores of the harbour for the body of Mr Loxton. Mr and Mra Loxton were married in June last. The boat from which the Loxtons were drowned was a mere cockleshell, having only 3ft oin beam, and would be a dangerous craft in the hands of other than an experienced oarsman. From the statement of a person who saw the couple leave the skids it would appear as if Mr Loxton was not an experienced boatman, as he caught a •'crab" just after casting off, and seemed to have very little command over the boat. It is thought that one of the occupants must hav-3 stood up in the boat and fallen out and the other in attempting to effect a rescue went overboard also.

On Tuesday two young girls, daughters of Mr W. H. Collins, Ashburton, were thrown from a horse. One of. them sustained a broken arm, and the other was badly shaken.