Well-known Napier Solicitor Drowned

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 4, 6 January 1941, Page 5

Well-known Napier Solicitor Drowned

STRUCK BY MOTOBrBOAT OUT OF CONTROL Per Frees Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. «. A Napier solicitor and a member of the Napier Borough Council was drowned in Lake Taupo to-day. The victim was Mr. A. H. D. Mayne, a married man with two children. He was a son of the late Dean Mayne, of the Anglican Cathedral, Napier. With his small sou, aged six, Mi. Mayne was returning from a fishing trip in his outboard motor launch to Jerusalem Bay, on the west side of the lake. While the launch was still about 25 yards from the shore the boy stood up in the bow ready to jump out but overbalanced and fell into the water. His father immediately dived in to rescue him, but omitted to turn off the motor. The boat commenced to swing round in small circles and repeatedly struck Mr. Mayne, who was supporting the boy and therefore unable to avoid it. He eventually had to release tbe boy and sank in about 12ft. of water. Miss Rita Frances Coles ,of Epsom, who was on the beach, saw the accident and swam out to the boy, who was supporting himself by paddling. Halfway back to the shore with aim she was met by a Papakura camp soldier, Gunner Hole, who relieved her of the boy. After the boy was put ashore they were both taken aboard another launch and went back to where the body of Mr. Mayne could be seen on the lake bottom. Gunner Hole dived and recovered the body. Artificial respiration was administered by Dr. Scoular, of Napier, for one and a-half hours without success.