Martha Dalziel: Tragedy at the Rakaia River

The Rakaia River looks so peaceful right now, but it's been the site of some really tragic events. Back in 1887, a woman named Martha Dalziel, a widow, tried to drown herself and her son in these waters.

She had been suffering from alcohol abuse and mental health problems after her husband Tom died. She'd been a housekeeper at the Dunsandel Hotel, but they'd asked her to leave because of her alcoholism. She missed a train to Rakaia and was last seen walking this way with her boy.

John Leebody, the bridgekeeper, saw her carrying her son across the bridge around midday. After that, she stopped at the South Rakaia hotel for some drinks. Catherine Thompson then saw her walking across the paddocks. Catherine got her brother to come with her, and they watched Martha head down to the water. They saw Martha tie her son to herself and plunge into the water.

People called for help, and a local boy found them further downstream. Her child had drowned, but Martha survived. She was sent to Christchurch and faced trial for her son's murder.

It's one of the more sinister cases from Rakaia. She reportedly loved her son very much, but she was dealing with a strong combination of sorrow and alcoholism.