No Trace Of Man Missing On Lake

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 1

No Trace Of Man Missing On Lake

(New Zealand Press Association) TIMARU, Oct. 11. An R.N.Z.A.F. Devon aircraft front Wigram yesterday joined seven jet boats in a search of the Ahuriri arm of Lake Benmore for the body of one of two men believed to have been drowned on Sunday afternoon.

He was John Robertson Curie, aged 47, married, of Humber street, Oamaru. The body of Mr Curie’s companion, a Maori employed by the Ministry of Works at Otematata, was recovered from the lake early yesterday morning. His name is being withheld by the police until his relatives in the North Island have been informed. Shortly after midday the Devon aircraft started an hour-long search of the arm where it is believed the men’s 13ft boat was swamped. No trace was found of the body or wreckage of the boat. STRONG WIND Seven jet boats and a pleasure launch also searched unsuccessfully. Constable J. Lester, of Otematata, was aboard the pleasure launch, but the vessels were forced to abandon the search because of a strong northwesterly wind, which made the lake choppy. The officer-in-charge of the Timaru police district (Chief Inspector E. J. Trappitt) said the search would be resumed at first light tomorrow morning if the weather was favourable. Mr G. Wilson saw Mr Curie and his companion at 4 p.m.

on Sunday on a beach of the Ahuriri arm. Their boat had been swamped. A strong north-westerly wind was blowing and the lake was rough. Mr Wilson saw the men again at 5.45 p.m., crossing the lake. When he looked at 6.30 p.m., they and the boat had disappeared. The police were notified after a quick search of the area by Mr Wilson and Mr K. Copeland had revealed no trace of the men. Several boats searched the lake until 12.45 a.m., and the search was resumed at 5.30 a.m. today with the jet boats.