Fatal Accident at Akaroa.—lt is with great regret that we have to record the death, by drowning, on Satur day last, in Akaroa Harbor, of Mr C. N. Nalder and Mr Sale. It appears, from the information received by telegram, that the twodeceased"gentlemen had recently purchased the yacht Ripple, and on the day in question, accompanied by Mr Westenra and Mr Sims, went out in the harbor to have a sail, when the yacht vsas caught by a. squall, filled, and went down. Messrs Westenra and Sims saved themselves by swimming some distance. We learn that after the yacht capsized, Messrs Nalder and Westenra at once made for the land, the waterman Sims and Mr Sale holding on to the boat. After doing this for a little time, the yacht, now 'nearly filled, began to give signs of going down, and Mr Sale said, "Well good by old fellow I'm going to make a push for it." Mr Sale then swam away and was lost sight of by Sims, who shortly afterwards disrobed himself striking out, and thankfully reaching the shore very much exhausted, but caught no sign of his unfortunate friend on the passage. It is singular to relate that a few days before the accident, a gentleman on a visit to Akaroa from Christchurch, hap pened to ask Mr Westenra how far he could swim if pushed, when he replied, "Well:I think about a mile if the temperature of the water permitted me. He little thought hok soon his powers of swimming would be put to a test. Up to our going to press the bodies of Messrs Nalder and Sale had not been re covered, though two or three boats are cut io search,

The Lyttei/ton Fire Futgat>e This brigade! met for practice on Friday, the Bth. The engine was taken to the well on the sec tion formerly occupied by the Queen's Hotel. The men were under the charge of Mr Fore man Sowden, and went through their various evolutions in front of the Borough school, washing down the windows of that building. After practice the brigade held a, meeting in the council chambers, when it was suggested that Mr Foreman Sowden should be recom mended to the Mayor as successor to Captain Kiddy as Fire Inspector.
