DROWNING ACCIDENT AT RANGIRIRI.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2043, 11 August 1885, Page 2

DROWNING ACCIDENT AT RANGIRIRI.

A c\sßof drowning of a peculiarly distressing nature occurred at Kangmri on Satnrday. Two men named, lespectively, John Cox and Alexander Wilson, living at Churchill, went to Mercer oji that day, on business and returned by the evening train. The men had partaken of refreshments. Wilson was a little the worse for liquor, hut Cox appealed to be quite sober. On alighting from the tr.iin thpy proceeded to the creek, and got into a boat belonging to Mr John Graham, for the purpose of proceeding to Churchill. A little girl, 13 years of ago, named Jane Dyke, saw thorn stait, and watched them. When the boat had gone two or three chains down tho river, she saw the men trying to put up tho sail, and then the boat capsized. She .it onco ran down tho bank, calling for ahhistance at the same time. She Kays that Cox got back into the bo.it twice, each time pulling Wilson in after him, but the boat again turned o>cr after each attempt. Before as«i«tance could bo rendered Cox sank, but Wilson managed to get close to the bank, and was rescued by two half castes named do Thierry, who wero attracted to the spot by the. cries of tho gul Dyke. Wilson wan greatly exhausted, and uas alnuwt insensible when pulled out of tbe water. On Sunday morning Mr John Graham, assisted by imno of the other Hettler.s, diagged tho creek, and found the body of Co\. close to tho spot wheio the accident occurred. An inquest was hold yestoiday, before Mr W. N. Searancke, coroner, in tho house formerly known as the Rangiriri Hotel, when, after heaiing the evidence, the juiy, of whom Mr Mcllioy was foreman, returned a verdict of accidental drowning. Tho Onetea crock, whero the accident happened, is not many yards wide, :md it is difficult to conceivo how tho unfortunato man was unable to save himself . It is pi«Burned that ho exhausted himself in his efforts to get back into the boat and save Ins mate, who, unlike Cox, could not swim. Tho deceased, who wait 38 yrnri» of ago, lea\ o» a widow and eight young children.

Mr J Knot will hold hi" nsii.il salr of produrr &c , Jittlir Hamilton Auction Mart, nn Saturday. A notification re the election of Cnramisioners for tho I own Dutrict of Ngaruawahia appears in another rolumn Mr A I'ollitt Halcombe invites tondors for cirtinp fentinp wire, m.inuris and need's to Lichfield.