LOSS OF THREE FEARED
WAITOTARA FISHING TRAGEDY CAPSIZED BOAT FOUND AT SEA BODY OF ONE MAN RECOVERED. TWO" COMPANIONS MISSING. I tsy re:«grapß Press Association.) WANGANUI, April 8. The capsize ot a fiat-bottomed boat off the mouth of the W’aitotara River, some time between Thursday and midnight on Saturday, resulted, it is feared, in the loss of three lives, one European and two natives. Tne body of the European, Thomas Alexander McLean, single, 35 years of age, lias been found. The two Maoris who are missing are: Maketu Wereta, married, aged about 38. Harold Hakaraia, aged about 20. All belonged to lhupuka Pa, \Vaitotara. On the trip from Wanganui to Patea on Friday the coastal vessel Kapuni, in charge of Captain William McKinnon, discovered a fiat-bottomed boat floating bottom up four miles to sea off the mouth of the Waitotara River. The boat, which is nearly 14 feet long, Was taken to Patea and handed to the Customs officials. The finding of the boat led to investigations being made, and it was revealed that McLean and the two Maoris had proceeded to the mouth of the river on Thursday and had not returned. It was the- usual practice of theirs to leave the pa on periodical fishing trips of this nature, camping at the river mouth to take advantage of favourable tides, and no anxiety would be felt if they did not return for some days. A search party was organised under the direction of Constable Skinner, of Waitotara, and at midnight on Saturday the body of MnLean was found washed ashore near the mouth of the river. The bodies of the twoMaoris have not yet been found and the search at various points along the coastline is continuing. Mr. McLean, who has a brother residing at Wellington, was born at Taihape in 1899. He enlisted for the Great War when 16 years of age and went overseas with the 32nd Reinforcements, winning the Military Medal.
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Bibliographic details
Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 April 1934, Page 4
Word Count
326LOSS OF THREE FEARED Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 April 1934, Page 4
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