BOAT CAPSIZES

Southland Times, Issue 22294, 9 April 1934, Page 6

BOAT CAPSIZES

THREE MEN DROWNED ONE BODY WASHED ASHORE FISHING TRAGEDY (Per United Press Association.) Wanganui, April 8. The capsize of a flat-bottomed boat off the mouth of the Waitotara river some time between Thursday and midnight on Saturday has resulted in the loss of three lives, one European and two natives. Those lost were: Thomas Alexander McLean, single, aged 35. Makctu Wereta, married, aged about 38. Harold Hakaraia, aged about 20. All belonged to the Ihupuka Pa, Waitotara. On the journey from Wanganui to Patea on Friday the coastal vessel Kapuni, in charge of Captain William McKinnon, discovered a flat-bottomed boat floating bottom up four miles to sea off the mouth of the Waitotara river. The boat, which is nearly 14 feet long, was taken to Patea and handed to the Customs officials. Its discovery led to investigations, which revealed that McLean and the two Maoris had proceeded to the mouth of the river on Thursday and had not returned. It was a usual practice of theirs to leave the pa on periodical fishing trips of this nature, camping at the river mouth to take advantage of favourable tides and no anxiety would be felt if they did not return for some days. A search party was organized under the direction of Constable Skinner, of Waitotara, and at midnight on Saturday the body of McLean was found washed ashore near the mouth of the river. The bodies of the two Maoris are still undiscovered and a search at various points along the coastline is continuing. McLean, who has a brother residing in Wellington, was born at Taihape in 1899. He enlisted when 16 and went overseas with the 32nd Reinforcements, winning the Military Medal.