TARANAKI FARMER'S FATE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 10

TARANAKI FARMER'S FATE

BODY CARRIED EIGHT MILES CROSSING JjN SLIPPERY PLANK [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] NEW PLYMOUTH, Friday A Taranaki farmer, Mr. C. F. Mundt, of Kaimiro, near Inglewood, was found drowned in the Waiongona River at Waiongona this week. Ha had apparently fallen in the river in the course of a storm on the previous afternoon and had been carried by the flood waters for approximately eight miles from his home. Mr. Mundt, who was about 65 years of age, left his residence in heavy rain to bring in his cows. He was heavily dressed, wearing an overcoat, a sack across his shoulders, and thigh gumboots. He had to cross the Waiongona, which was about 4ft. above normal, on a narrow plank with a wire support. The cows driven by the dog arrived at the milking shed irregularly, but there was no sign of Mr. Mundt. His family became alarmed, and at about a p.m. informed Constable C. Lincoln, relieving police officer at Inglewood. The constable and others searched with lamps until about midnight, but no sign could bo found. The search was given up owing to tho heavy rain. Early next morning parties comprising about 20 Kaimiro residents searched tho Waiongona and surrounding country. Mr. Mundt's tracks were traced on his return with the cows to the plank across the river, where they stopped. Later in tho morning fragments of clothing were discovered in the river between his homestead and the Inglewood bacon factory. The search was continued in the afternoon, and Mr. Mundt's body was discovered by Mr. Albert Hintz, a neighbour of Mr. Mundt, about a quarter of a mile below the Waitara water supply intake at Waiongona. The body was in a backwash of from three to four feet of water. The plank Mr. Mundt had to cross was very slippery. Anyone using it could easily lose his balance and fall into the river, where, because of the strong current, he would have little hope of reaching the bank. Mr. Mundt leaves a widow, four sons and two daughters.