DROWNING FATALITY

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11933, 27 January 1936, Page 2

DROWNING FATALITY

DEATH OF MR FRANK H. MILSON

The Haii-ini Estuary, generally regarded as a safe bathing area, was the scene of a sad fatality yesterday afternoon, when Mr Frank Henry Milson, a well-known resident of this town, lost his life. Mr Milson and his children and another girl were bathing near the borough end of the bridge about 4.30 p.m. and had gone across the stream. After some time all decided to return from the far side of the stream to the Tauranga side. They all started across, the children leading. When the children reached shallow water they stood up and looked back but could see no sign of their father, who had evidently disappeared without being able to give any warning. The children at once gave the alarm and several people on hearing the cries hurried to the scone and commenced searching tor Mr Milson. Miss Marjorie Phelps who ran to the scene when the children called stopped several cars and informed the occupants of the occurrence. The first car was Mr Alex Stewart's and one of its occupants, a Samoan lad named Len Parker, ran to the beach as quickly as possible and dived several times —with his clothes ' on—at the spot where the children pointed out that Mr Milson was last seen. This lad then changed into his swimming costume and continued diving for over an hour and until exhausted. Later two other young men arrived by car and also dived. A dinghy was also manned by Messrs W. McLeod and N. Kensington and a stranger from a passing car, and with a pole they endeavoured over a large area of the estuary to find the body, but all efforts proved unsuccessful. Towards evening the Harbour Board's launch Reo, with Constable McKenzie aboard, proceeded to Hairini and carried out dragging operations until 10 p.m., but without success. Very early this morning Const able McKenzie motored out to Hairhii and found Mr S. L. Simons there also. As soon as it was daylight they resumed the search and about five o’clock discovered the body on the edge of a sandbank beside the channel to the westward of the bridge about a quarter of a mile from the place where Mr.Milson had been bathing. Constable McKenzie had the body removed to the morgue. The inquest was opened this moniing, before Mr A. F. Tunks, coroner, and after identification it was adjourned till 10 a.m. on Thursday next at the courthouse. The late Mr Milson, who was thir-ty-six years of age, was born at Feeding, and was the second son of Mr and Mrs J. S. Milson, of Oropi, who came from the Manawatu to this district many years ago and for a long time were farming on the Cambridge Road. He had been employed for the past two years as overseer of unemployment schemes under the Lands Department and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He took a keen and active interest in the affairs of the Presbyterian Church and was an Elder and also Superintendent of the Sunday School. He was a member •of the Masonic fraternity. The sympathy of the whole community will go out to Mrs Milson, her thr'ee young children and other relatives in their great and sudden bereavement. The funeral will leave the Presbyterian Church at two o’clock on Wednesday afternoon.