DROWNING FEARED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22714, 28 April 1937, Page 10

DROWNING FEARED

LAUNCH OWNER MISSING GATHERER OF COCKLES BOAT FOUND AT ANCHOR [BY TELKGRArH —OWN* CORRESPONDENT] TAURANGA, Tuesday The Katikati police were advised on Sunday that a small fishing launch belonging to Mr. William Abner Shires had been seen anchored for some days near the cockle beds at Bowentown. Investigations were made, and it was found that the launch had two or three feet of water in it, and also a quantity of cockles on board. Mr. Shires was in the habit of collecting cockles and selling them in Tauranga. The launch was usually anchored off the municipal baths when in Tauranga. He left Tauranga on Thursday and was apparently last seen at Bowentown the same afternoon collecting cockles. The boat was noticed to be still there on Friday, and was low in the water. A neighbouring farmer investigated and found it as described. The dinghy was missing, but was later found by boys two miles away, with a good anchor rope attached, but no anchor. Thigh boots and a fork were found on the cockle bank subsequently, but there was no sign of Mr. Shires. The theory is that he took the dinghy and went in search of cockles, lost the dinghy while on the bank, and took off his boots in an attempt to regain the dinghy, but was drowned. Mr. Shires, who was about 48 years of age, came to this district irom Lower Hutt about four months ago. For a time he was employed by Plummer Brothers on their farm at Omokoroa. He then purchased a launch here and was engaged in collecting and selling cockles. Latterly he made his home on board the launch. A search was instituted and is being continued under Constable O'Neill, of Katikati.