TWO BROTHERS DROWNED

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 August 1928, Page 12

TWO BROTHERS DROWNED

LAUNCH CAPSIZED OFF REEF (Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 23. The Secretary of the General Post Office has received the following message from the Postmaster at Plimmerton: “The large launch Matakitaki, owned by Brown Bros., of Paremata, capsized off the reefs about two miles from Plimmerton at 2.30 p.m. It is unofficially advised that Harry Brown and Alick Brown were in the launch at the time. The launch was seep floating for a. few minutes, and then it disappeared. It was impossible to send ■searchers from either Plimmerton or Paremata. A heavy sea is running,- and there is a high wind. A party of men left Paremata for the Reefs,’ near the scene of the mishap. Brown Bros, carried lifebelts in the launch.” LATER-

A search for the missing men — Henry Brown, aged 53, married, with no children; and Alexander Brown, aged 48, years, married with four children—continued until dark. No trace of the men was seen, but much wreckage of the launch and a battered hulk were discovered. The cause of the disaster seems to have been the stoppage of the engine. The boat capsized in heavy seas. The two men were farmers, who did fishing in winter.