DOUBLE DROWNING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 166, 15 June 1936, Page 9

DOUBLE DROWNING

WAIRARAPA TRAGEDY. WELL-KNOWN YOUNG MEN. FEATHERSTON, June 14. A double drowning occurred in the Ivahutara district, 12 miles out of Featherston, on Saturday night, the victims being Hector Donald, aged 21, and Murdoch McLeod, aged 20. Both men were well-known in the Wairararapa district, and members of prominent families. Mr Donald was the fourth son of the late Mr and Mrs Allan Donald, and worked on his father’s estate at Featherston. He was educated at the Featherston District High School and at Wellington College. His father was a prominent pastoralist, racehorso owner and breeder. Mr McLeod was the youngest son of Hon. A. D. McLeod, and managed his father’s property at Mangapari, Maitinborougli. He also was educated at Wellington College. Gn Friday evening the pair, who were keen sportsmen, set out on a duck-shooting expedition, and it is believed they met their death when crossing the Maungatiti backwater, which runs into the Taulierenikau River, on their return on Saturday night. This morning Mr J. E. Henderson, who lives close to the spot at ! which the fatality is believed to have taken place, discovered the boat belonging to the young men capsized near the shore, as well as some clothing. Their motor-car also was near bis , place. I Mr Henderson went up to the camp ! and inquired if anyone was missing. He was told that all was well, and that the two young men had left on ! Saturday. Mr Henderson was then convinced that a tragedy had occurred. | It is stated that on Saturday night I he saw the light from the boat and heard the voices of Messrs Donald and McLeod, but, naturally, little notice was taken of those facts at the time. The backwater is thick with high weed, which would prevent the men from swimming the 60 yards across it when their craft capsized. In addition, they would have been handicapped by their waders. Search parties were out all day today dragging for the bodies, which have not yet been recovered. An aeroplane flown by Pilot-Officer J. M. Buckeridge, of the AVairarapa and Ruahine Aero Club, also took part in the search. The pilot stated that he saw two objects lying at the bottom of the backwater, which is about 40 feet deep, but he believed they were logs. Mr E. F. Barton, who knows the locality well, is convinced, however, that what the aeroplane pilot thought were logs were the bodies of the victims.