TOLL OF SUMMER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1926, Page 7

TOLL OF SUMMER.

ANOTHER PICNIC TRAGEDY, j I TWO LIVES LOST. j ( By TPlr^rapb.—Press Aseo.-iatlmi.i EKETAHCXA. Thursday. A double drowning tragedy occurred in the Makakahi River, about one and ■ a-half miles from Eketahuna. late this i afternoon, the victims being two girls, I Millie Dearl and Phyllis Waterreus, both about ten years of age. I A birthday picnic for the latter girl I I was being held on the river bank and a | number were playing in the river, when i these two girls and a younger sister of j Phyllis Waterreus got out of their | depth. I Ellen Duffy pot the younger sister | ashore, and Esne Duffy made a great i attempt to rescue Phyllis Waterreus, ■ who. however, lost her grip before gain- i ing the shore. Both girls, Millie Dearl and Phyllis '; Waterreus, sank in a hole in the river, : and their bodies were washed under a j papa ledge. I Other girls then ran for assistance. and a boy on horseback brought the news to the town. Immediately several people motored to tho scene. In tile . meantime a passing motorist had endea- ', voured to assist in the rescue, but was unsuccessful. On the arrival of other people the bodies were recovered a n<l attempts at rescuscitation were made. but as the bodies had been in the water for nearly an hour this was given up as hopeless. j