THREE LIVES LOST

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 August 1924, Page 5

THREE LIVES LOST

CAPSIZE OF FISHING BOAT,

PLUCKY ACTION BY NATIVE,

RESCUE WORK WITH OLD CANOE

(BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) W AIROA. Aug. 27. Three men were drowned to-day as the result of a whale boat being overturned while a party of six Maoris and two white men were proceeding to sea for the purpose of fishing off the coast, The boat was caught in a strong current and the occupants were helpless. One native stood up, his action causing the rowers to miss an oncoming wave. One oar snapped and the boat\urned bioadsido on. The next wave swamped and upset the boat, and the oars were swept away immediately.

Taylor, Nokinoki Paku and Riki Huaka managed to swim ashore with difficulty. Wiremu Walker, who. was fishing on the beaiili, saw the accident and launched an old canoe, by which he was able to rescue Eric Rogers alive and recover the body of Puru Solomon. Barney Huka and Wi Toko Hamana were also drowned, but their bodies have not been recovered. Walker’s heroic action is worthy of proper recognition. He risked his'life in a. very old canoe, going out into the rip. The harbour board launch and Richardson’s Tangaroa and Tuatu proceeded to the scene of the accident, but saw no sign of the bodies. All the victims were married. Huka had no children, Hamana had two and several dependants, while Puru Solomon had a. family of twenty-one, seven being under sixteen, and the youngest four months. A close watch is being kept for the other bodies.