RUAWHATA SETTLER DROWNED

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5353, 9 February 1916, Page 5

RUAWHATA SETTLER DROWNED

WHILE CROSSING THE RIVER. | HORSE GETS INTO TROUBLE. News reached Pahiatua yesterday i afternoon that Mr Tlios. K. Mason, a selector at Ruawhata (Mangatainoka Block) had been drowned while crossing the ford of the Manaw&tu river behind Mr J. Hunter’s proi perty. Mr Mason was returning from Woodville with itis horse and dray, and was Iso driving a mob of sheep. Particulars are meagre, owing I to the telephone line not being in working order, but it appears that i some of the sheep commenced, to go I down stream and Mr Mason drove i down after them. The horse either got into deep water or was swept off its feet by the strong current' the animal being drowned. Mr Mason also disappeared, and at time of writing the body had not berni recovered. The settlers and police have been making a search- of the river for the body.

The late Mr Mason was a young man. and previously resided at Nireaha. He drew a 60 acre section in the MangatainOka Block at the land ballet in Pahiatua in July. 1913. He was a sterling and useful settler and one who was much esteemed by those who knew him. Deceased leave a wife and young family. LATER PARTICULARS. THE BODY RECOVERED. The body was recovered this morning in a hole a short distance below where Mason crossed the river, behind Mr J. Hunter’s property. The river was in a dirty state yesterday and this morning. It appears that; the sheep got into a mag and Mason went down in the trap to them. A kul named Tanner was with Mason at the time, but he jumped out of the back of the dray. Deceased was crossing tiie river a little below the usual ford. He was last seen* hanging on to the horse’s neck, endeavouring to unfasten the harness. The horse was drowned, but che dray has been recovered. Deceased was a member of the Ruawjiata School Committee.