Whangarei Man Drowned While Harbour Fishing

Northern Advocate, 15 November 1940, Page 6

Whangarei Man Drowned While Harbour Fishing

Relinquishing his hold on a beacon to which he had been taken follwing the capsize of a boat in the Whangarei Harbour late last evening, Samuel Raymond Taylor, 24, of Whangarei was drowned. The body was recovered early this morning.

In company with Mr Philip Charles. Taplin, of Auckland, who is visiting Whangarei, Mr Taylor left Whangarei last evening in a small dinghy to fish near Port Whangarei. After trying one place they decided to move. Mr Taylor taking the oars. He suggested changing places with Mr Taplin, and while this was being done the dinghy rocked and shipped some water. Left Clinging to Buoy.

Mr Taylor cried out that the boat was capsizing and jumped overboard, the dinghy capsizing as he did so. Mr Taplin inquired if Mr Taylor could swim, .and received what he thought was a reply in the affirmative, but he discovered that his companion was not a strong swimmer, .and was in difficulties.

Mr Taplin assisted him to reach a channel beacon, to which he left him clinging while he swam to the shore for assistance as he was not able to take Mr Taylor that far. Looking back when near the shore, he saw that Mr Taylor had disappeared. Body Recovered. The police were notified ,and a search for the body was instituted by Constable R. H. Allan, assisted by Mr D. McLeod, of the Whangarei Harbour Board staff. The body was recovered shortly after 1 a.m. in .about five feet of water, 10 feet down stream from the channel buoy to which he had been clinging.

When the mishap occurred, the tide had turned, and it was nearly low water when the body was recovered. Inquest Opens.

An inquest was opened this afternoon for identification purposes by the District Coroner (Mr G. H. Morrish) and adjourned. Mr Taylor was a married man with one child, and was employed as a vulcaniser by the Lifebuoy Rubber Company, Ltd. Lifetime in Whangarei.

He was born at Waipu, but soon afterwards his parents moved to Whangarei where he v/as educated, attending the Hora Hora School, and the Whangarei High School. On leaving school he joined the staff of the Lifebuoy Rubber Co., Ltd., being with the firm for the last 10 years. He was interested in sport, but his main hobbies were boating and fishing.

Three years % ago, he was married to Miss Margaret Sykes, of Whangarei, who, With a small daughter, survives him. ■