NO SIGN OF CANOEST

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29953, 15 October 1962, Page 11

NO SIGN OF CANOEST

Feared Lost In Bid For Shore

(N.Z. Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, Oct. 14. A young married Waitara man is missing, believed drowned, after his canoe capsized in the surf near the mouth of the Waitara river about 4.15 p.m. today. He had been a father for two days. He is Arthur Thomas John Moratti, of Baitiiscombe terrace, Waitara, aged 20. About 50 people on Waitara west beach watched helplessly as Mr Moratti was swept quickly out to sea in a northerly direction, dinging to his upturned craft. After drifting for about ■half an hour he left the canot and attempted to swim for the shore. He was last seen at 4.50 p.m. struggling against a changing tide and making practically no headway.

The Waitara police were notified of the mishap soon after but as it was low tide no craft could be taken over the sand bar at the mouth of the river.

A 12ft dinghy was dragged to the beach and was rowed to where Mr Moratti was last seen. A plane from the New Plymouth Aero Club sighted the canoe drifting north but ■there was no sign of Mr Moratti.

Three other boats joined the search which ended at dark.

ITCHING FOR HEIGHTS Steeplejack Not Upset By Fall

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Oct. 14. An Auckland steeplejack, Mr A. J. Mudgway, recovering in Middlemore Hospital after falling 70 feet frqrn a New Lynn brickworks chimney three weeks ago, is'itching to get back aloft. He joked from his bed today: “If they don’t let me out soon, I’ll have to climb out of the window.”

Mr Mudgway was admitted to hospital with his left leg fractured, and it is now mending rapidly.

His fall has left him worried—not about climbing chimneys, but about the amount of work that is mounting up while he is in hospital. His first job when he gets out in two or three weeks will be to inspect a 60ft-high fertiliser ■ works chimney at Mount Maunganui.