COOK STRAIT SWIM

Northern Advocate, 8 February 1928, Page 4

COOK STRAIT SWIM

ACHIEVED BY A WHITE MAN. The Wanganui correspondent of the Auckland ‘'‘Star'’ telegraphs:— Following on the Auckland report that a Mhori woman swam across Cook , Strait from D'Urville Island to Eapiti, it is stated here that a white man, the son of an old whaler named Powell, who spent many years with the Maoris on the East Coast, also swam the Strailt. He was ■ a friend of the late Mr Martin, a Maori, and the husband of the late Julia Martin, ‘ * The Grace Darling of New Zealand," who carried out rescues at the time of the wroek of the Delaware near Pepin’s Island. Martin himself had crossed the Strait on various occasions in a canoe and one day while he was at Wiaika* nae Powell agreed to swim the Strait if Martin’3 canoe would accompany him. The pair camped at Temwhiti and early one tine summer morning they set out, Miartra in'the canoe and Powell swimming. He was successful in landing on the South Island before dusk. They then proceeded in the canoe to Cable Bay, where Martin? owned a large block, of land.