DOUBLE DROWNING FEARED

Evening Star, Issue 22365, 15 June 1936, Page 8

DOUBLE DROWNING FEARED

FATAL DUCK SHOOTING EXPEDITION [Per United Press Association.] AtASTERTON, June 14. It is feared that a double drowning fatality occurred last night in a lagoon near Kahautara, involving the death of two prominent young South AA’airarapa men. The names of the supposed victims are: Hector Donald, of Fcatherston, aged 21, a son of the late Air Allan Donald. Murdoch M'Leod, of Alartinborough, aged 20, a son of Air A. D. Al'Leod, ex-Alinistor of Lands. It appears that after spending yesterday afternoon duck shooting on the lagoon, which is a backwater of Lake Wairarapa, the young men left the other members of the party early m the evening to return home in a boat. The first indication of a tragedy came this morning, when a settler at Kaliautara found the boat, together with coats and hats, washed up on the lakeside. As nothing has been heard of the young men since they left the other members of the party it is feared that the boat must have capsized and that thev have been drowned. The lagoon is very deep and the bottom is thick with weeds. Although dragging operations were carried out throughout the day the bodies had not been recovered late to-night. BOTH BODIES RECOVERED FROM LAKE [Per United Press Association.] CARTERTON, June 15. The search for the missing bodies of the youths drowned in AVhareroto yesterday was continued this morning, and one, Hector Donald, was recovered 30 yards from shore, clad in a leather 'jacket and shirt. The theory is that he stripped off and went to the assistance of Murdock Al'Leod. There are 20ft of water at the spot where the body was recovered. It was located by an aeroplane flown by Keith M‘Alaster, and was recovered by drags. The second body has not yet been located. Later. The body of Alurdoch M'Leod was recovered shortly after noon 20yds from the other body on a line parallel to the shore. He was fully clothed, except for gumboots, and was wearing a loaded cartridge belt.