FISHING BOAT UPSET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14219, 16 November 1909, Page 5

FISHING BOAT UPSET.

TWO NATIVES DROWNED.

LONG STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

[BY , TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

■■ v " Gisbobve, Monday. The capsizing of ; a fishing-boat at Te Araroa> on - Saturday s afternoon resulted' in two natives • losing their s lives, ■ whilst the third occupant of tTie craft only .succeeded in reaching the shore after - swimming about two miles, . and landed in an exhausted condition. It- appears that on Saturday morning three • natives, ' named Teopera Hami, Wirepu Tapinana, and Tuhaka Kohere- (sometimes / known as Morgan), proceeded * out to the fishing grounds, off the township, in a light craft, and one which many would have considered unsafe. The natives of the locality, however, are accustomed to the sea, and are expert . boatmen. Tuhaka Kohere possesses a wide reputation for being skilful and daring in manipulating the steer oar yof these boats. Returning home about three o'clock in the afternoon, the boat by some misadventure capsized, and the three natives clung on to the upturned craft. After drifting for some time before the wind Teopera Hami and Wirepu Tapinana • were washed off and drowned. Deformity in one leg with the former native and almost total - blindness and advanced age' with the second probably accounted for ' their succumbing to the trying experience.' Tuhaka Kohere, who is an uncle of the Rev. R. T. Kohere, is a man of good physique- and a splendid swimmer. Aftej* drifting with the boat alone he obtained a piece of planking and struck out' for the shore, landing safely at Arupua. A < locally-owned oil launch was despatched yesterday ; morning to search for the bodies, but: the- search was fruitless." Constable ' Wales, of Port Awanui, proceeded to' Te Araroa, and has examined the beach for a - considerable distance, but up to to-day the bodies had not been recovered.