CITY CHEMIST GOES OVER BRIDGE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17759, 1 February 1926, Page 7

CITY CHEMIST GOES OVER BRIDGE.

SEARCH PARTIES STILL OUT AT WAIMAKARIRI. It is not deep enough here.' These were the last words of Mr E. Cameron Smith, a Christchurch chemist, before he was lost in the waters of the Waimakariri on Saturday evening. Search parties have so far failed to find his body. About 5.45 p.m. Mr Cameron Smith motored in his car to the Coutts Island side of the cutting bridge, near Kaiapoi. He left the car and walked to the bridge, and disappeared through the railings into the water. Two motor-cyclists on reaching the bridge looked down stream and saw Mr Carrfcron Smith in shallow water. In reply to them, he said: “It is not deep enough here.'’ and he went into deeper water. He appeared to be swimming. They thought they saw him regain his feet, but he was immediately washed away again. He was last seen by a fisherman on the Belfast side of the river at a point where the cutting joins the main stream. He was face downwards and immediately disappeared. The police at Kaiapoi were notified of the occurrence at 6.45 p.m., and Constables Holmes and Warren, with Constable Moore, of Belfast, searched till late at night without result. The search was commenced again early yesterday morning, and was continued throughout the day. a number of civilians assisting the police, but the search proved fruitless. The searchers were greatly hampered by the water being in a dirty condition and the side of the river, where the body is expected to be found, is a mass of protective willows. The search is being continued to-day. Mr Cameron Smith was a married man with a family.