TWO DROWNED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 221, 15 June 1936, Page 10

TWO DROWNED

Members of Prominent Wairarapa Families BOAT CAPSIZES 111-fated Duck-shooting Trip BODIES NOT RECOVERED Dominion Special Service. Featherston, June Id. A double drowning occurred in the Kahutara district, 12 miles out of Featherston, on Saturday night, the victims being Hector Donald, aged 21, and Murdoch McLeod, aged 20. Both men were well known in the Wairarapa district, and members of prominent families.

Mr. Donald was the fourth son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Allan Donald, and worked on his father’s estate at Featherston. He was educated at the Featherston District High .School and at Wellington College. _ His father I was a prominent pastoralist, racehorse ’ owner and breeder. Mr. McLeod was Ithe youngest son of the Hon. A. D. McLeod, and managed his father's property at Maugapari, Martinborough. He also was educated at Wellington Col On” Friday evening the pair, who were keen sportsmen, set out ou a duckshooting expedition, and it is believed they met their death when crossing the'Maungatiti backwater, which runs into the Taulierenikau River, on their return ou Saturday night. This morning Mr. J. E. Henderson, who lives close to the spot at which the fatality is believed to have taken place, discovered the boat belonging to the young men capsized near the shore, as well as some clothing. Their motorcar also was near his place. Mi-. Henderson went up to the camp and inquired if anyone was missing. He was told that all was well, ami that the two young men had left on Saturday. Mr. Henderson was then convinced that a tragedy had occurred. Jt is stated that on Saturday night he saw the light from the boat and heard the voices of Messrs. Donald and McLeod, but, naturally, little notice was taken of those facts at the time. '.l’he backwater is thick with high weed, 'which would prevent the men from swimming the 60 yards across it when their craft capsized. In addition, they would have been handicapped by their waders.

•Search parties were out all day today dragging for the bodies, which have not yet been recovered. An aeroplane flown by Pilot Officer J. M. Buckeridge, of the Wairarapa and Buahinc Aero Club, also took part in the search. The pilot stated that he saw two objects lying at the bottom of the backwater, which is about 40 feet deep, but he believed they were logs. Mr. E. F. -Barton, who knows the locality well, is convinced, however, that what the aeroplane pilot thought were logs were the bodies of the victims. Both young men were exceedingly popular throughout the district. 'The search for the bodies will be continued to-morrow. CHILD DROWNED Fell Into Mataura River By Telegraph—Press Association.

Invercargill, June 14.

A drowning occurred at Gore to-day, a child aged two years and a half apparently falling into the Mataura River.

'Die child was Murray Gordon, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Gordon. He was missing early this afternoon, and when a search was made he was found in the river. The indications were that he had not been in the water very long, but artificial respiration was unavailing.