CAR IN RIVER

Grey River Argus, 13 October 1936, Page 5

CAR IN RIVER

TRAGEDY NEAR WAIROA Number of Victims Urcwtain (Per Press Association*. WAIROA, October 12. F.vid'ence of a shocking fata’rty having occurred near Matai Bridge, about fifteen miles from Wairoa. has been received bv the police, who to-day recovered. from Waiau R-ver at th’s spot, a sedan motor-car. When hauled ashore, the two doors of thc| ear woie open, and it is feared that at least two men. and maybe others, have lost their lives. At present, however, the whole affair is shrouded in mystery. The ownership of the car han been traced to Mr Rauf Win’tann. a Maor’ labourer, of Tuaij of whom, no trace has vet been found. Detail? so far are meagre, but from various inquir es made by the) poffice. it appearWin’tana left Wah-oa early on Saturday evening for the purpose of ro turning to Tuai, and he had another man in the car with him. Air S. Deacon, proprietor of a service station, was speaking tn Wmitana, and li' -aij he bad ?ome,.others to pick up on the road.

Tt is feared that the ear, when approaching Afata ; Br’dgei struck n telegraph post, and fell over a banl. between 39 and 49 fqet in height Into a very deep hole in the river. Nothing further was heard of the ear until about f. 30 o’eliock last ovenmg. when it was reported that a man. namwl Preston, saw a canvas "bag floating on the. r'ver. He immediately reported this to the poHee. who had visitefl the r'ver during th:e day, making a search for Robffit Templeton, who had been mining for over a week. Tmmcd'ntely on reecfvinr ahis new?; Constable' Gatehouse, ATcAlpine. and Alatches returned to the spot, and began to sepreh. The bodv of Templeton wa? located, and a man named D. Afitchcll swam out into the river in an effort to secure it. Ho iwas unable M accompli- 1 this l , however, as TemMct-nn’s bod’’ floated downstream, where it been’” eaup-ht ill? in some willows. The task of the cons'nbles wuc lr no mean? an casv ('Ti' l '. Severn l effoit were made to got a line on t.n the en” wlr’eh was completely submerged, nn’ nt about 11 o’clock they wore compeßoq Io give ut>| nnfl return fo lor. r; At davbreak this morning, the poHc.o again loft for tho scene, and they ro-covon-ed TempMion’s body. Further efforts wore then made to recover the car. and after several hours’ hard work, in which tho police wore ass'stod by sovrvr-il Ardkcon sot tiers, the car was brought ashore. Tt was then fnun/1 that two of it? doors were open but there was no sign of YVinifana or tho passengers. Dragging was confined. w'theiut any results. Inquiries were instituted. and d wn>.> found flhat. Winitnna had not ro turned to Tuai. and that nothing lin boon seen tof Irm s’nee Saturday. The police returned to Wa.'roa firs afternooin hut the search is tn bo con f inued.