SEAMAN DROWNED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23846, 23 December 1940, Page 6

SEAMAN DROWNED

JUMP FROM YESSEL

ATTEMPT TO SWIM ASHORE

DISAPPEARANCE AT PORTLAND

[BT TELEGKArH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] WHANGAREI, Sunday

Jumping overboard after his vessel had left the Portland wharf and attempting to swim ashore, an able seaman was drowned yesterday afternoon. He was: —- Mr. Frederick Smith, aged 31, married, with three children, of 9 Holiday Road, Mili'ord, Auckland. l!r. Smith was a member of the crew of the coastal steamer Miena, which is owned by G. H. George and Company, Limited, Auckland. Tho vessel had completed loading cement at tho Portland wharf and had commenced the return trip to Auckland at about 4 p.m. yesterday, when, about lof) yards from the wharf, Mr. Smith was seen to jump overboard and to attempt to swim to the shore, but be sank after swimming a short distance. Tho Miena's engines were reversed and a launch and dinghy put off from the wharf. A search failed to locate Mr. Smith and the Whangarci police wore notified. Senior-Sergeant A. Henderson and Constable 11. C. Ross carried out dragging until darkness and the work was resumed early this morning, but without result. Dragging will continue to-morrow. There was a strong tide running in the Portland channel, where there is a good depth of water. Dragging is possible only at low tide. After assisting in the search yesterday, tho Miena continued its voyage and arrived at Auckland early this morning.

FAIiL FROM A BRIDGE

A GIRL OF NINETEEN

[BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] GREYMOUTH, Sunday

The fourth drowning in recent weeks 011 the West Coast occurred early this afternoon. The victim was Miss Dora Kittelty, aged 19, of Cobden. The girl was seen to fall over the rail of the Co bden-Cx rev mouth traffic bridge into the Grey River, a drop of about :50ft. Two boys saw her floating down tlie river for about 50 yards, when she disappeared. No trace of the body has been found, although dragging was carried out during the afternoon.