MAORI BOY HEROES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13353, 18 April 1911, Page 3

MAORI BOY HEROES.

DROWNING FATALITY AT WAIKATO HEADS. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, April 14. Particulars have been received of the drowning of three Maoris at the Waikato Heads. Hon" Wliari Tamihana (18 years), Toha Whare Tamihana (13 years), and Hori Taro (12 years), were drowned, and Tiki Whare Tamihana (1-1 years) was saved. The two girls were fishing from a boat in the Waikato River, and got into a strong current, with the result that they were rapsized over the bar. The two hoys, seeing their difficulties, took a Rob-Roy canoe, and went to the rescue They fearlessly followed the girls over the bar, and caught the other boat, making their’s fast to it. Both boats got into the breakers, which were very heavy, and capsized, the whole four Maoris being taken out to sea. Mr. Cobousn and Mr. E. Spargo, witnessing their plight, pot out quickly in another boat, but were unable to render assistance. Some time after. Mr Coburn, from a point of vantage, saw a boat half r. mile along the coast in the surf, and proceeded thither. On arrival he found a boy am girl clinging to it. Being single-handed, at great risk ho went breast deep in the surf, and saved tingirl. The boy was struck on his forehead by 'the boat and sank. The boy and girl had been two hunrs in the water. Several people saw them carried over the bar, and speak of the heroism of the two school bovs.