BODIES NOT FOUND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 11 April 1934, Page 6

BODIES NOT FOUND

MAORIS LOST FROM BOAT (By Telegraph—Press Association) WANGANUI. 9r.li April No trace has yet been found ot the bodies of the*tvvc Maoris, Mal'.clu Word .1 and Harold Ilakaraia, who were lost as the result of a boating mishap off the 1110ut.l1 of the Wailotura river some time between i'iiur.sday an! fin day last. \ho body oi Thomas Alexander McLean, the third member ol the party, was found at midnight on Saturday.' and although it was clad only in a shirt, it is fairly corta'U that lie was in the boat ai the time of the accident. His scanty attire led to the heliet that he might have been engaged in the tasi< of rescuing the other two, and had swum from the shore in an attempt to do so Residents who ire wr.il acquainted with the habits of the trio, however, state that it is the practice of McLean to put to sea clothed with little more than a shirt.

Wereta leaves five children, the eldest of whim is 14. and Hakarnia leaves one young child. At she inquest intr the death ot Thomas Alexander McT.enn. conducted at Waitotnrn to-dav before the actingcoroner, Air William Simpson, and a. jury of four, a verdict of accidental drowning was returned, there being no evidence to show how McLean got into the water. The evidence showed that he left Waitolara on Wednesday nigh, to go fishing. The two Maoris followed about midday the next dnv. 1 lie clothes of all three were found neatly placed in ;> rough sort of camp near the mouth of the river and in which they slored nets and other gear. There was no evidence to show how the mishap occurred. An upturned boat found by the vessel Kapuni was the only indication that they had boon out to sea.