284 DEATH OF DR. ANDREW SINCLAIR. [September, 



DEATH OF DR. ANDEEW SINCLAIR. 



(From the ' Ltfttelton Times,' April 3, 1861.) 



Among aU the records of accidental death which have darkened the 

 columns of this journal almost without intermission since the foundation 

 of the settlement, none can be found so lamentable as that which it is our 

 painful duty now to register. News has reached town that Dr. Andrew 

 Sinclair, wlio passed thi'ough Christchurch and Lyttelton but a few weeks 

 ago, to assist Mr. Julius Haast in his exploration of the interior of this 

 island, perished by drowning in the upper waters of that fatal Rangitata 

 river, on Monday the 35th of March. An authentic account which we 

 have received states that on the day mentioned the exploring-party were 

 about to proceed to the sources of the eastern and middle branches of the 

 Rangitata, having finished the survey of the western branch, when an acci- 

 dent rendered necessary the return of a man and horse to Mr. Butler's 

 station (Mesopotamia) ; Dr. Sinclair determined to return with them, his 

 object being to collate the large quantity of valuable specimens of botany 

 he had collected, to complete various drawings, and to recruit his health, 

 which had suffered from the hardships to which he had been exposed. 

 Having one horse between them. Dr. Sinclair and the man who accompa- 

 nied him, named Richard Stringer, adopted the plan, where the river- 

 crossings were bad, of letting the horse take over one of them at a time, 

 and sending him back for the other. At one spot, where the river divided^ 

 leaving an island in the middle, Dr. Sinclaii- went over first, selecting a 

 not very favourable crossing. On reaching the island he endeavoured to 

 send the horse back, but the animal refused to retm-n, and set off by him- 

 self to cross the next stream towards Mr. Butler's station. Dr. Sinclair 

 followed the horse into the second stream, which was fleet and broad, and 

 Stringer, after watching him for some time, went down the bank a little to 

 find a better crossing for himself. On reaching an elevated spot which 

 commanded a complete view of that part of the river. Stringer turned 

 round, and to his surprise failed to catch sight of his fellow-traveller. He 

 at first paid little attention to the circumstance, thinking that Dr. Sinclaii- 

 having crossed, was resting, or gone in search of the horse; but after 

 watching for some time longer the painful reality began to force itself upon 

 him, and he returned to the camp — not two miles distant — and related 

 his sad story. Mr. Haast hurried to the spot, where on the following day 

 he was joined by Mr. Butler and the rest of the party. About sundown 

 on this day the body of the unfortunate gentleman was discovered, about 

 three hundred yards below the place where he had crossed, in a position 

 which gave every indication that he had left the water alive. The body 

 was some yards from the stream, and the head was resting on the arm. 

 No time was lost in conveying the remains to Mr. Butler's, where, a 

 coflin having lieen prepared, the solemn ceremony of interment took place 

 in a spot carefully selected and fenced round. A document was prepared 

 and attested by those present, detailing the circumstances of his death, in 

 precise language, in case legal investigation (which could not be had on 

 the spot) were not requii-ed. We learn, however, that steps will be taken 

 for securing the observance of the desirable forms of law. 



