THREE LIVES LOST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 83, 9 April 1934, Page 6

THREE LIVES LOST

CAPSIZE OF FISHING BOAT THREE OCCUPANTS DROWNED EUROPEAN AND TWO MAORIS. SEA TRAGEDY NEAR WAITOTARA. Three men, a European and two Alaoris, lost their lives as the result of a capsize of a fishing boat near the moutn of the Waitotara River some time between Thursday and Friday. The victims are: Thomas Alexander McLean, aged 35, single. Maketu Wereta, aged about 38, married. Harold Hakaraia, aged 2<», mail. .. All three lived at the ihupuka i’i, Waitotara. The coastal vessel ixapuui, m charge of Captain \\ . McKinnon, un ±> riduj sighted a flat-bottomed boat Heating upside down four miles lu sea uff thu mouth of the Wailutaia River. The vessel took the boat in tow and lianucu it ovci to the Customs authorities at Batea. Inquiries were made immediately and it was discovered that. McLean and his two companions had leu the pa at Waitotara on Thursday. 11 was often a practice of theirs to camp at the river s mouth iu readiness tu take advantage of favourable tides, and when they did not return on Friday no anxiety was felt, but when the report came from Batea that the boat had been discovered it was realised that there had been a tragic happening. A search paity, under the direction of Constable Wkinner, of Waitotara, was organised and on Saturday, about midnight, the body ot McLean was found on shore near the mouth of the river, having been washed up by the tide. Through Saturday night and all day yesterday the coastline was carefully watched, not only at Waitotara but at Waverley. Batea and Castlecliff. There is no doubt that the Maoris have been drowned, and it is anticipated that the set of the tide will take their bodies towards Castlcdiff. Over 30 persons, including relatives of the two natives, participated in the search at Waitotara on Saturday and again yesterday. The late Mr. T. A. McLean was born at Taihape in 1899 and was a wellknovVn Wanganui resident. He enlisted for service in the Great War when he was sixteen and went overseas with the 32nd reinforcement, winning the Military Medal in France. A brother, Mr. William McLean, resides at 89 Thorn don Quay, Wellington. Both the Maoris are well known at Waitotara and along this coast, particularly Mr. Wereta. He leaves a family of five. Up to midnight last night the two bodies were still missing, but the search was being continued in relavs.