Uriah Batchelor

BOAT ACCIDENT AND LOSS OF LIFE - On Sunday morning last, Uriah Batchelor and Thomas Lyford, boatmen, in attempting to cross the Boulder Bank in a small schooner-rigged boat, were unfortunately capsized in the surf before reaching the bank, by the sea striking her on the larboard quarter, and breaching her to. The boat and men were drifted over the bank by the strength of the flood-tide into deep and smooth water. Four boats immediately put off to their assistance; one from the barque Madras, one from the Maori hostelry, and the pilot and harbor boats: the boat's crew of the Madras succeeded in taking the lad Lyford off the keel of the boat; but poor Batchelor had sunk in deep water before either of them could reach him, having most probably been disabled by a blow, as the boat was seen to roll over and over. It is difficult to account otherwise for the sudden disappearance, for he was an excellent swimmer, and, could have kept himself afloat for a much longer time than it took the boats to reach the spot, or he might have gained his own boat, and held on by the keel with the lad Lyford. The unfortunate man has left a widow and four children. Much praise is due to the crews of the several boats, and especially to the Maories, who were on the hill watching the boat, and were off to its assistance almost as soon as the others. A very singular trait in the native character was exhibited on this melancholy occasion. The Maories who had thus exerted themselves afterwards applied to Mr Strong , by whom Batchelor had been employed, for payment for their services. Mr Strong, however, refused to give them anything as payment, but expressed his willingness to make a present for the assistance they had rendered. This they refused: they were willing and even eager to accept payment, but the present, whatever that might be, they unanimously requested should be kept for the children of the drowned man.

Nelson Examiner 29 August 1846