DINGHY SWAMPED

Southland Times, Issue 24601, 25 November 1941, Page 4

DINGHY SWAMPED

MARRIED MAN DROWNED

(P.A.) TAURANGA, Nov. 24. A married man, Thomas James Cummins, aged 43, a farmer of Apata, was drowned in the Wainui river yesterday, in the vicinity of the Pahoia soldiers’ settlement, 15 miles from Tauranga. Accompanied by J. C. Dougal, he rowed from the shore in a dinghyto a launch anchored in the river. They had gone some distance when they noticed the dinghy was leaking badly. When it was evident it would not reach the launch Dougall decided to swim ashore for help. Cummins who was a non-swimmer, stayed with the boat.

After a hard struggle Dougall reached the bank in an exhausted condition. He saw his companion had disappeared and assistance was secured from an adjacent farmhouse. Constable O’Neill, of Katikati, was called. Dragging operations were carried out all the afternoon and the body was recovered at 5.30 Cummins leaves a wife and foui- children. WOMAN’S BODY FOUND (P.A.) ASHBURTON, November 24. The body of Mrs Gertrude Campbell, aged 45, wife of Mr David Murray Campbell, of Ashburton, was found in the Ashburton river yesterday afternoon. She left home on Thursday evening. SMALL BOY SCALDED Roger Hennessy, aged two years, son of Mr T. E. Hennessy, 478 Tweed street, was admitted to the Southland Hospital last evening suffering from scalds on his back and left thigh received when a container of boiling water was spilled on him. His condition was reported to be satisfactory.