TE ARAROA BOATING FATALITY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14848, 27 February 1919, Page 5

TE ARAROA BOATING FATALITY

In connection with the recent drowning fatality at Te Araroa, the body of Wi Campbell was found last. Saturday', but that of Tauranga has not yet been recovered. The former is a brother of Mrs W. Priestly, who went up to Te Araroa immediately on receiving word. Tho two men were proceeding m a boat from Whangaparoa to Tikitiki with a load of fish. There was a heavy sea running at Tikitiki. Tlio Maoris on shore signalled to the men m the boat to return. They did pull away from, tho shore, but soon afterwards were seen standing up m tho boat, evidently to satisfy themselves as to whether it was ?afe to .make an effort to land. Then they evidently decided that they would make the attempt, and accordingly did so, with the result that the boat was capsized m the breakers, a long distance from shore. The men wero seen clinging to. tho boat, which was apparently being held almost stationary by the backwash from tho shore, instead of being swept m. on the waves as would ordinarily be the case. The natives on phore were powerless tc. render help. Three great waves swept. in and broke m quick succession; one- nian was seen to put up bis arm and then the men disappeared, having lost their hold on the boat. Strange to say the boat then floated straight m on the waves and was brought on to the beach/ the fish, stillbeing securely tied up. v ' Wi Campbell (better known as Wi Mackey) was well-known m Gisborne, having resided on Kaiti for many years, and receiving his education at the Gis-.'-borne school. He -tfas 46 years of age, and leaves a widow and four children,' Ufie eldest being 17 years and the youngrest seven months. Much sympathy wilY be felt for the relatives m their bereavement. The body was buried m the Maorj cemetery at To Araroa.