OIL LAUNCH FATALITY.

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11966, 20 June 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

OIL LAUNCH FATALITY.

THKEE MAORIS DROWNED. June 17. The police received news last night, by the arrival from the Croixelles of Mr Stewart, of an oil launch fatality by which three Maoris lost their lives. June 18. In connection with the accident to an oil launch at Whangarae on Saturday ni Lit, by which three Maoris lost their lives,a "Colonist" reporter yesterday gathered someaddi t uinal particular to those already pub lished from a resident of the locality, who stated that there were eleven persona in the boat, which wins in charge of Ted Morgan, a Maori. The other occupants were Aperabama Tewhetu and hig wife, their little son, Mohi, seven years of a»e, Mrs Ronata (an elderly woman), Mrs To.i Morgan, Mrs Tni and two chil'lron, Rene Tevvhotu and Taimoana Pakaka, an elderly man abDut eighty years of age. As stated in yesterday's issue the party were coming to a sitting of the N .tive Land Court at Nelson, and when they had proceeded about half a mile a leak v/ns discovered in the engine. Seeps wero at once taken to pack the leak, and it was while this was bein« dr>ne that the fire occurred. Whether an explosion took place, or a lantern, which was being held in close proximity to engine while it was being packed., was dropped, it is not quite clear, [but the flames burned fiercely, causing consteroa tion among the Natives. Rene Tewhetu pluckily endeavored to extinguish the flames with hig coat, and Ted Morgan, while making his way to render assistance, fell overboard. Mrs Renata, Aperahama Tewhetu, his wife and child, in the excitement, jumped out of the launch, and it was while endeavoring to save his wife that Aperaharaa Tewhetti was dro-vned. Mohi, their little stii and Mrs Renata also lost their lives., but tne 'others were saved. The oil launich,was ultimately beached, and the fiie extinguished. Yesterday morning Constables Fitzsimmons and Tonkin wont to the Croixellea, accompanied by a number of Maoris, to search for the bodies of the man and tho little boy, and to hold an inquest on the body of Mrs Renata, which was picked up on Sunday morning.