WAIHOPAI RIVER TRAGEDY

Southland Times, Issue 25691, 28 June 1943, Page 4

WAIHOPAI RIVER TRAGEDY

Five In One Family Drowned TWO CHILDREN ESCAPE A drowning tragedy involving a family of seven—a mother and her six young children—occurred in the Waihopai River early on Saturday night. Five members of ■ the family were drowned or presumed drowned. Two of the bodies, those of the mother and a four-year-old son, were recovered by the police in dragging operations on the river yesterday. Those drowned and presumed drowned are: DROWNED Emma Mcßae Atkinson Robertson (mother), aged 37. Struan Woodside Robertson, aged 4. PRESUMED DROWNED James William Robertson, aged 5. Nan Robertson, aged 3. Graham Churchill Robertson, aged 2. MOTHER’S ACT Mrs Robertson was the widow of James Robertson, a farmer, formerly of Bainfield Road, Waikiwi, who died 10 months ago. On Saturday evening, about half-past five or six o’clock, according to a statement made by the Invercargill police, she took her six children for a walk to Elies Road bridge on the Waihopai River, and from the bridge she dropped each child into the river. Then, presumably, she also went into the river.

The eldest child, Joan Emma Robertson, a girl aged seven years, and one of the boys, Alistair Woodside Robertson, aged four years, were able to scramble out of the river. The others sank immediately or were carried downstream by the fast-running current.

The girl Emma Robertson, ran off to her home about a mile away and told a relation what had happened, and the boy, Alistair, wandered along the road and was taken care of by nearby settlers. Later he was taken to the Southland Hospital. Alistair and Struan Robertson were twins. Dragging operations were carried out all day yesterday and will be continued today. The police were assisted by Dr G. B. Orbell, who lent two row-boats, and members of the public who visited the scene of the tragedy. AIRMAN KILLED IN MOTOR COLLISION NEW PLYMOUTH, June 27. A leading aircraftman of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was killed when a motor-cycle he was riding collided head-on with a cai - at Bell Block about mid-day on Saturday. The victim was Peter John Clarke, aged 24, a single man whose parents live at Te Araroa. The car was driven by Leading Aircraftman Gilbert Cleaver. Clarke, who received severe head injuries, died immediately. SECOND VICTIM OF HOUSE FIRE DIES CHRISTCHURCH, June 27. Arthur William Vincent Wilson, who received severe injuries in the fire at 166 Durham street on Friday, died in hospital today. He is the second victim of this fire, his son, Neil William Wilson, aged 3, having been burned to death in one of the back rooms of the house.