N.Z. TRAGEDIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 January 1926, Page 5

N.Z. TRAGEDIES

TWO GIRLS DROWNED.

(Per Press Association.)

EKETAHUHA, January 28. A double drowning fatality occurred in Makakahi River, about miles from Eketahuna late this afternoon, the victims being two girls, Millie Dearl and Phyllis Watereus, both about ten years of age.' A birthday picnic for the latter- girl was bedng iield on the river bank, and a number were playing in the river when these two girls got out of their depth, also a younger Watereus girl. Ellen Duffy got the youngest sister ashore, and flame Duffy made a big attempt to rescue Phyllis Watereus, who, however, lost her grip before gaining the shore. Both girls, Dearl and Watereeus sank in a hole fin the river, and their bodies were washed under a papa ledge. The other girls then rap for assistance, and a boy on horseback brought news to town. Immediately several people motored to the scene. In the meantime a passing motorist had endeavoured to assist in the rescue, but was not successful. On the arrival of the others, the bodies were recovered, and attempts Were made at resusictation, but as the bodies had been in the water nearly an hour this was given up as hopeless.

MOTORIST KILLED.

AUCKLAND', January 28,

“This inquiry has been a painful one to listen to , for there was no reason why such a young life should have been thrown away. Both cars were visible to each other long before they came into collision. This has resolved itself into a fight between the drivers of the cars,” said Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., coroner, when the inquest into circumstances of the death of Finlay Charles Joseph Leathart, aged 19, who was killed tin a collision between two motor cars at the (intersection of Hauraki Street and HarbourView Road, Birkenhead, on Christmas Day, was concluded after a considerable volume of evidence had been given by numerous witnesses. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from shock and heart failure, as the result of the collision. Mr Hunt said that, on the evidence, he could not find that either driver was culpably negligent ,but he was of the opinion' that Fred Lees, the driver of the car in which deceased was riding, committed an error of judgment in approaching the junction of the streets at a fast pace without giving sufficient warning that he was leaving the main road for the Harbour View Road. WOMAN POISONED. AUCKLAND, January 28. Mrs-Kate McEwin, wife of the licensee of the llobson Hotel, was admitted to the hospital to-night, suffering from poisoning. She died 20 mlinutes later.