DOUBLE DROWNING

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 140, 15 June 1936, Page 10

DOUBLE DROWNING

WAIRARAPA TRAGEDY

MISHAP IN LAGOON

BODIES RECOVERED

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

MASTERTON, This Day

A double drowning accideni oc- j curred on Saturday night in a lagoon near fcahutara, involving the deaths of two prominent young South Wairarapa residents, Mr. Murdoch McLeod, youngest son of the Hon. A. D. McLeod and Mrs. McLeod, Martmborough, and Mr. Hector Donald, fourth | son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Alan Donald, Featherston. The bodies wci'e r " covered today about thirty yards from the shore in 20 feet of water. It appears that the two young men, who were keen sportsmen and crack shots, went on a duck-shooting expedition to Tent Lake on Friday afternoon. They intended to return home on Saturday evening and, leaving the remainder of the party at Tent Lake, they proceeded down the Tauherenikau River in a flat-bottomed boat. From the river they made their way into a calm, deep back-water, known as the Mangatiti Lagoon, about a mile from Lake Wairarapa, where they were in the habit of housing their boat. Exactly what happened after they made their way up the lagoon in ihe vicinity of! Mr. J. Came Bidwill's, property at Kahutara will probably" never be known.

LIGHT SEEN ON LAGOON. The first indication that an accident! had occurred came yesterday morning | when Mr. J. E. Henderson, who lives close to the Mangatiti Lagoon, found the boat used by Messrs. McLeod and Donald upside down on the shore. Fears for the safety of the young men were increased when their coats and hats were found washed up on the shore. Mr. Henderson immediately went across to the shooters' camp at Tent Lake where he ascertained that Messrs. McLeod and Donald had Jeft the previous evening on their way home. Additional weight to the theory that the young men came to grief in the Mangatiti Lagoon was lent by the fact that Mi\ Henderson recalled seeing the light of a boat coming along the lagoon on Saturday evening. Later Ihe heard what he thought to be Messrs. Donald and McLeod talking as the boat neared the shore. He did not actually hear them land arid presumed they had proceeded further along the lagoon. There are no currents in the lagoon, and the water is invariably very calm. It is, thought that the young men must have had a mishap when about to land, and as the water is very deep close to the shore the men, both of whom were wearing heavy waders, would find it difficult to reach the shore. Thick weeds in the lagoon would also greatly hamper their efforts. It is suggested that one of the men might have fallen out and when trying to get in again capsized the boat. DRAGGING OPERATIONS. When the news of the accident became known upwards of 100 settlers assembled at Mangatiti, where dragging operations were commenced. In the afternoon a Wairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club machine, piloted by Flying-Officer J. M. Buckeridge, flew to TCahutara and assisted the searchers in their work. A fair number of drowning fat% ties have, occurred in this, back-ivai„-in the past. The two young men were particularly well-known in the Lower Valley, their families being two of the oldest and most prominent in the district. Mr. Hector Donald, who was aged 21, was employed on the Donald Estate, Featherston. • Mr. Murdoch McLeod, aged 20, managed his father's property. • Mangapari, Martinborough.

LOCATED FROM AEROPLANE (By Telegraph —Press Association.! . CARTERTON, Tliis Day. The body of Mr. Donald was dad in a leather jacket .and shirt. The theory is that he stripped off and went to the assistance of Mr. McLeod. His body was located from, an aeroplane piloted by Mr. Keith McMaster and was recovered by means of drags. Mi*. McLeod's' body v/as recovered shortly after noon twenty yards from the other body. He was fully clothed except for gumboots, and was wearing a full cartridge belt.