UNREWARDED HEROISM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 6

UNREWARDED HEROISM

ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE MAORI GIRLS FAIL

CORONER COMPLIMENTS RELATIVES (Prom Our Own Correspondent) WHAXGAREI, Wednesday. An inquest concerning the death near Kaikolie of Moke Hinui Pera, aged 17, and Hohi Pere Hinui Pera, aged 15. who were drowned in a creek, was held at Kurukuru by Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.Nt.

The grandfather of the girls said he saw them going for a swim, but" he gave them a warning against doing so because the creek was in tlood. The girls walked on to a log bridge and a little later he heard a shout. Running out of his shed he saw Hohi in the water near the far bank. Moke dived in after her. Hohi caught hold of some tea-tree just as Moke reached her. Moke caught Hohi by the shoulders and witness called to Moke to push Tlohi toward the bank. They were both in difficulties and were curried down stream.

Witness’s daughter Raina then dived in and endeavoured to effect a rescue. Slio reached the girls, whereupon Moke caught hold of Raina and the three girls struggled and disappeared. After a few seconds the three came to the surface again and Raina swam ashore. After freeing himself of his heavy boots witness jumped in but failed to find Moke. The log bridge had been in position for two years and the stay which supported the wire handrail broke off. Hohi was evidently leaning against this when the wire snapped, throwing her into the water. llohi could not swim. Moke could swim, although she had a pair of riding breeches on when she dived to the rescue.

Raina Beckham gave evidence that she was standing on the lug bridge with her two nieces when ihe wire handrail collapsed and Hohi fell into the water. She had jumped in to try to save the girls, but Moke pulled her under. She freed herself and with difficulty reached the shore.

Constable Wolfendale. of Kaikolie, said ho recovered the bodies the following morning, assisted by a large number of Maoris. The bodies were about 300 yards from the bridge. The coroner found that the deceased met their death by drowning as the result of an accident when the wire hand-rail broke. Mr. Luxford complimented the grandfather and aunt on the heroic efforts made to save the girls.