BOATING TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 11384, 9 December 1930, Page 5

BOATING TRAGEDY

waipiro bay diystery

ONLY TWO MEN MISSING t

CONFLICTING REPORTS

(Special To The T'imcsj

WAIPIRO BAY

Dec. S

Despite an intensive search of the foreshore; no trace had been found, lip to a late hour to-day, of the missing men whose overturned boat was discovered 011 Saturday night; floating into Akuaku. Bay, about' three miles* south of. Waipiro Bay. It has been ascertained, however, tliat one of the'- nlen, ! -Hamiaua Walker, who was supposed to have departed-in tlie craft wheii it set out 011 a fishing expedition about 7 a.m. on Saturday, did not go. The other two men, Whare Koto and Manihera Paurakau, both married with families, and residents of Tokoniaru Bay, have been definitely reported as missing and-the w-orst isfeared. -

There are still, -some'' apparent grounds-, unfortunately, for the belief that the .boat contained three men. though the identity of the third is a mystery,, since no other lias been rejiorted missing. It is understood, however, that any doubt on this point will be cleared up when the police can get in touch with another man wlio, it is believed, was present when the boat left on the fishing expedition. A,..,.' A Maori bov reuorts that be observed the boat when it was a few hundred yards off shore and states that it then contained three men. Another fishing party reports that three men were in the boat when it was at- the; fisliiiio- grounds. Both these reports, however, are without corroboration.

SEA WAS QUITE NORMAL

TOKOMARU RESIDENT’S STATEMENT.

(Special to the Times.)

TOKOMA.TUI

BAY, Dec. 8

Commenting on the reported boattragedy at Waipiro Bay, a well-known local resident, who is fully qualified iu matters of sea-lore, expresses surprise .at tlie statement that the sea became rough 011 Saturday. At Tokoroaru Bay. there was not the'slightest sign, of any undue- swell on that day. He admits, however, tliat tlie conditions might have been different higher up the Coast, though it would be expected that; at the two places, Tokoniaru Bay and Waipiro Bay, only about 12 miles apart along tlie Coast, nraotically similar conditions would lie-existent.; . ■ • , : • -7" ;