I found this in the Wanganui Herald dated 31st Oct, 1881 via paperspast, National Library of New Zealand.

'An accident, fortunately unattended with serious consequences to the principal performers in it, took place on the River Bank yesterday afternoon about 6 o'clock. Mr Thomas Bush with his wife and family, had been on a boating excursion up the river and had returned, Mr Bush rowing the boat down to it's mooring place. One of his children, a fine, intelligent little boy, named Charlie, went to the River Bank to look after his father, and on decending a flight of steps nearly opposite Mr Bush's residence, he fell, and was precipitated over a ridge of four feet high into the river. His own screams, and those of other children who were playing near, alarmed his mother, who rushed out of the house and instantly plunged into the river, which at this point was now up to her shoulders, rescuing her boy just as his struggles were over and he was being carried down the stream. The youngster was extracted with difficulty, and is now none the worse for its adventure, but we regret to hear that Mrs Bush has sustained a severe shock, and is seriously unwell'.