TRAGIC END TO PICNIC

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 283, 3 November 1925, Page 2

TRAGIC END TO PICNIC

MAORI DROWNED. Per Press Association. TAURANGA, Nov. 2. An accident at Matakana Island resulting in the drowning of one Maori was the tragic end to a native, picnic yesterday. After dinner eight natives "left one part of tho island for another. They had to cross a wide and deep channel, nearly a mile wide at high tide. Except the deceased the party were all young, between nine and twenty. A small dinghy of six feet was used and made two trips. On returning at about six o’clock, tho whole party crowded in to the cockleshell. The wind was against the tide, making a choppy sea. When about halfway across, some alarm was felt as to the safety of the craft and two agreed to get out' and swim. As they were doing so, tho boat capsized, but did not sink. Deceased struck out for the shore, but failed to reach it. Two girls clung to the boat and a native lad, Hipirini, aged 17 years, succeeded in undressing. He took the rope in his teeth and after half an hour’s struggle, towed the boat to shallow water. All three were much exhausted. A man from the shore, William Wright, meantime got out to Hipirini and got the three ashore. Another occupant, Tiui Tawhiti, aged 16 years, pluckily saved his brother aged nine years, after a long swim with the little lad on one arm. ' Two other girls in the boat were good swimmers and swam ashore. The body lias not been recovered.