DROWNING FATALITY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11684, 13 July 1912, Page 5

DROWNING FATALITY.

• ' (Per Press Association.) -Blenheim, July 12. , A' sad■■■■drowning fatality occurred at Wairau Bay yesterday. William Albridlge, junr., and Edward Collett-, both single. men, were crossing the bar inwards from Port Underwood in -an oil launch. It was very rough on thei bar", and the boat capsized in the breakers,:and both... men were drowned. .Their bodies were washed up on. the heach. and recovered. ,

Further details regarding the Wairau bar drowning fatality are that a fall of cement, at Dalgety's ne.w store cut the telephone wires, and that is the ireason" of no details, being, lavailable before, this. The victims are: William Aldridge, aged, 27, - and Edward Collett, aged'2s, cousins, unmarried. They were engaged' in. the fishing trade, and left ill; a niotor launch for Port Underwood on Monday, returning, yesterday. They attempted, to negotiate theWairan.bar. The sea. was not extraordinarily- rough, biit an nhusnally powerful roller "Struck th.e launch at a /critical moment, and Her. The harbormaster and liis assistant went across to the open beach, but saw no signs of the men. It was impossible to traverse tlij: bar in an open boat. The harbormaster .communicated with a steam'er at. Wairaii, and the captain'sent out a lifeboat,.but the search was unsuccessful. The body of Aldrittge was picked up on {lie beach near the 'bar at 5.30.p.m"., ;and Colle'tt's at tlie same' place early this morning. The launch smashed to pieccsi