CANOE FOUND ON BEACH

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28835, 4 March 1959, Page 15

CANOE FOUND ON BEACH

■ .Search For Occupant Abandoned .

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, March 3.

The canoe in which Mr Peter D. Luckie was attempting to cross the Raglan bar on Sunday afternoon has been found washed up on Carter’s Beach and hopes of finding Mr Luckie alive have been abandoned.

How Mr Luckie became separated from his companions while three canoes were crossing the bar was described by Mr J. R. Kendrick, of Hamilton, who was one of the four other meh to reach shore in an exhausted condition. Mr Kendrick'said the party set out at 1 p.m. in canoes.. which Mr Luckie had constructed. They crossed the bar without much difficulty and went two miles towards Whale Bay before turning to come back. They reached the bar about 2.30 pjn., apd to their amazement the water was very rough. The two double canoes capsized and the occupants—Messrs Kendrick, N. C. Walter (Hamilton), A. A. Appleby, and A. M. Birch (Australia)—Clung to them and made for the coast outside the harbour.

Mr Luckie was still in his canoe. He gave one of the swimmers his special flippers to assist them and said he would go across the bar to their cars to get additional flippers for the other swimmers, whom he advised to cling to the canoes and paddle with the tide towards the coast. This is the last that was seen of him.