FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR DROWNED MEN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29513, 15 May 1961, Page 10

FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR DROWNED MEN

The bodies of two Kaiapoi duck shooters who were drowned after their 16ft flatbottomed boat capsized in the swollen Waimakariri river near the mouth of the Kaiapoi river about 9 am on Saturday, have not been found. The men were; John Russell Huria, aged 25. a joiner, married, with one child, of Meadow road, Kaiapoi Lawrence Earl Orchard, aged 21, a joiner, .single, of Akaroa street, Kaiapoi. A third man tn the boat, Russell William Joy. of Akaroa street, Kaiapoi, struggled ashore on the south bank and summoned assistance He was badly shocked, and yesterday was not able to describe how the accident occurred Yesterday morning Constables J. J. Highsted and I. E. Harris, of Kaiapoi, searched the beach from the mouth of the Waimakariri river as far north as the mouth of the Ashley river in an Army utility vehicle. The boat was found on the high-water mark about three miles north of the Waimakariri river. Also found was a haversack of decoy ducks. The boat was in good order, and was resting upright. It contained only about a gallon of water. About 500 yards to the north the two oars were found. This morning the Kaiapoi police plan to make a further search. The three dogs which were in the boat have been recovered alive. The boat is a craft of local design known as a Waimakariri “flattie," and tapers to a point both fore and aft. It was equipped with a 3h horsepower motor, but this was not on the boat when it was recovered. The police believe that the three men were going to or returning from their duck shooting position, about a quarter of a mile up the Waimakariri river from where it is joined by the Cam river. It is understood that the three men left home early in the morning. It appears that one of the dogs became restless, and the boat was swamped. Mr Joy, a fairly strong swimmer, managed to kick of! his waders, and it is believed that helped to save his life. Mr Huria was wearing chesthigh waders, and Mr Orchard had on \waders which came up to his hips. On Saturday Constables Highsted and Harris went down the river in a launch

belonging to Mr K. Vickery, and a search was made as' far as the Brooklands lagoon The launch had difficulty in making headwayin the rapidly flowing river, which was in a high fresh The Sumner lifeboat was summoned, and it encountered high seas. The Lyttelton Harbour Board pilot launch, Wairangi, also made a search, which was abandoned about 430 p.m Yesterday. Constable J. Thompson, of Belfast, searched the beach south of the Waimakariri river.