'Auckland Weekly News' (Saturday 17 June 1865) -
A man named Crow informed the police of Onehunga on Tuesday morning that in coming from Mangere he had seen off Weekes's Island* the dead body of a man in a boat full of water. The boat is described as being white and having a square stern. Constables Lloyd and Houghton went down in the Sub-collector of Custom's boat to the spot. The body has been identified as that of a man named Davy who in company with another person named Moore went away on Sunday last from Onehunga in a small boat for the pilot station. The body was found hanging over the seat of the boat which was full of water, the head and feet being immersed. It is greatly feared that the deceased's companion has shared a similar fate.
[* Weekes's Island is now known as Puketutu Island]

'Daily Southern Cross' (17 June 1865) -
FATAL BOAT ACCIDENT -- DEATH FROM COLD AND EXHAUSTION.
CORONER'S INQUEST.
A coroner's inquest was held at one o'clock yesterday, at the Royal Hotel, Onehunga, by Dr. Philson, on the body of David Williams, whose body was found, apparently drowned, in a boat, near Weekes's Island, in the Manukau.
The following is a list of the jurors enrolled to try the case:- Messrs. Pittar, Hoskings, Charman, Simpson, Garrett, Taprel, Cowell, Parnall, Spaulding, Johnson, Forbes, Heyers, Norton, Madden, Raven, and Leahy. Mr. Taprel was chosen foreman.
After viewing the body the jury returned to the room; and after the names had been called over, William Groom, the first witness, deposed : l am a farm labourer and live at lhumatao. When l went home from work on Monday last, at about 5 p.m., I was informed that a boat had been seen drifting in towards the beach by Mr. Ellet, at whose house I am lodging. The boat was seen Weekes's Island, and appeared heavily laden. It was very rough that night. I did not go to look after it, but at two o'clock next morning I took a dingy and went by moonlight in search of the boat. I went round Weekes's Island, and found the boat lying upon the rocks, full of water, and I saw something dark on one of the seats. It looked like a lump. I put my hand on it to move it, not knowing what it was, when the heels came above water, and I saw it was the body of a man. I dropped it at once, and made the boat fast to the rock by the painter, and went home ; and after getting breakfast, went over and informed the police at Onehunga of the affair. Afterwards I heard that Mr. Robinson had on Tuesday been to the place, to see if he could recognize the body. I again went over to the boat with Sergeant Robinson and his son, and found the boat tilted over, and part of the water out of it, and what remained was of a red colour, evidently blood and water. The body was lying on the face, and the side of the face visible on my second visit. It was clothed. I did not examine the pockets. My attention was drawn by Sergeant Robinson to one of the pockets of deceased hanging out. It was the right-hand pocket. I do not know deceased.
By a juryman : There was outside the boat a mast and sail lying alongside. The painter was hanging out. There were neither oars nor rowlocks.
Constable Smith deposed : I am a constable in the armed police, and am stationed at Onehunga. On Tuesday last, between eleven and twelve o'clock, I received information, given by last witness, that a dead body had been found in a boat at Weekes's Island. Constable Lloyd and myself proceeded to the spot in the Custom-house boat, and went to the place, but owing to the tide being low were unable to get to the place. Accordingly next day, Wednesday, I took a boat and proceeded to the spot, and reached the boat at a little after 1 p.m., and found the boat over the rocks. It was a small boat, painted white, and with a square stern. By over the rocks I mean that the boat was afloat over the rocks. The boat was close to the shore. On examination, I fouud the body of a man in the boat, lying on the thwarts of the boat, with his back up and his face and feet touching the floor of the boat. The head was much lower than the back ; the face was under water. I looked at the body. I recognised the body as that of David Williams, a seaman, who has been living at Onehunga for some time. His face was pock-marked. I did not see any marks of violence on the body. I saw blood in the water. I think the blood must have come from his nose. The body was clothed in grey tweed trousers, secured with a belt. The right pocket of the trousers was hanging out. It had a small hole in it. The left pocket appeared worn out of the trousers altogether. He had a blue serge smock, and a white flannel shirt near the skin, also short lace boots on the feet. The body was not decomposed, and had been about two days in the water. There was nothing else in the boat. The mast and sail were between the boat and the rock. The sail was a small one, and was made fast apparently from the top of the mast to the bow of the boat. I brought the boat and body in tow to Onehunga, where they now lie. The body is deposited in the stable of the Royal Hotel. I should think deceased is between 20 and 30 years of age. I do not think be has any relations at Onehunga. I do not think that deceased was murdered. I saw no marks of violence on him.
James McPike deposed : I am a labourer, living at Onehunga. I knew deceased. I have known him for two or three months. I think he was a sailor, but he has been working at the South Head for Captain Windle during the last month. I last saw him alive on last Sunday afternoon, between three and four p.m. He was then in the boat getting ready to go away in the same boat as that which I was afterwards shown as the boat in which he was drowned. The boat belongs to Hugh Evans, the pilot Charles Moore was with him when he went away in the boat. Charles Moore is a carpenter, and employed at the Heads also. Charles Moore has been missing ever since Sunday. I was speaking to deceased on Sunday about half-an-hour before going away. Moore was sober, but deceased was rather the worse for liquor. I saw them leave the beach. Moore was rowing with paddles. There was a sail and mast in the boat. The wind was light and from the north-west at the time. They were quite competent to manage the boat. I watched them for about 400 yards. There did not appear to me to be any danger. There were two dogs on board - a Newfoundland and a terrier. Nothing has been heard of the dogs. I heard the men were missing on Tuesday about 12 o'clock. I saw them on Wednesday, when they came in on the beach, and identified the body of David Williams. I do not know if the dogs could swim ashore. The large one had a heavy chain on. I believe deceased died from wet and cold, and not from drowning. I think the boat may have turned over and pitched both men and dogs out, and that deceased clung to the boat till she grounded on the sand bank, and then righted her and got in. I do not think they were sailing. I think the boat filled. I do not think deceased was murdered. The missing man has left a wife and five children at Onehunga.
The jury, after considering for a short time, returned a verdict of, "Found dead in a boat, which was washed ashore at Weekes's Island, on Tuesday, June 13th instant. No marks of violence were found on the body."
The jury appended the following rider to their verdict:- "That it is desirable that a dead-house should be erected at Onehunga, and that the police be provided with a boat and drag."

'New Zealand Herald' (21 June 1865) -
...We understand that several articles have been picked up on the Mangere beach belonging to the boat in which the body of David Williams was found dead last week. The body of the missing man, Charles Moore, has not yet been found...

'Auckland Weekly News' (24 June 1865) -
Last week we reported the finding of a body of a man in a boat off Weeke's Island. An inquest was held at Onehunga on Friday week on the body of a man whose name was David Williams. The jury returned a verdict of “found dead in a boat with no marks of violence about the body”. The jury also recommended that a dead house be erected at Onehunga and that the police should be furnished with a boat and drag. With regards to the missing man, Charles Moore, we may state that two oars, a rudder and a bundle of newspapers and a letter addressed to Captain Hunt have been picked up all of which articles were in the boat in which the deceased was when it left Onehunga.

'Auckland Weekly News' (1 July 1865) -
A body supposed to be that of Charles Moore who was the companion of the unfortunate David Williams, lately drowned in a boat in the Manukau has been found at Awhitu about 15 miles from Onehunga. It was brought to Onehunga on Thursday and was followed to the grave by about 50 relatives and friends.