TWO MAORI LADS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1943, Page 4

TWO MAORI LADS

DROWNED IN THE WAIROA RIVER. THIRD ACCIDENT OF KIND IN FORTNIGHT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WAIROA, December 19. The Wairoa River claimed two more victims shortly before noon on Satui - day. when two young Maoris lost their lives. They were Tamati Andrew and Richard Wilson, both aged 12. The parents of both victims reside at Kihitu, near Wairoa. It appears that the boys, while searching for pipis, decided to go swimming They dived into deep water, and, being unable to swim, were soon in difficulties. A third lad was unable to rescue them and saw both bodies disappear in the current. Owing to the long distance from the scene of the accidents to the homes, a considerable period elapsed before help was forthcoming. The police were not notified till late in the afternoon, when they went to the river mouth and commenced dragging operations, which were continued yesterday but so far without success. It is believed that the bodies have been washed out to sea. This is ■ihe third drowning fatality in the Wairoa River in a fortnight. A young girl lost her life on December 7.