MANGATAINOKA RESIDENT LOSES LIFE

Chronicle (Levin), 7 May 1946, Page 7

MANGATAINOKA RESIDENT LOSES LIFE

Tlie tragic news was received late 011 Bunday niglit that tlie weJl-knuwn Mangatainoka carrier, Air. J. R. Galballv, had been drowned'whilst shootmg at Eake Wairarapa. ; The iate ALr. GalbalJy was accuinpauied by Alessrs .M. Reichenbach and A. Rusden, both of .Mangatainoka, and this party has for vcars past ulways spent tlie opening of the shooting season a't the clianiiel oti Ihe Kunienga Estate 011 the Martinborough side of the lakei On the Baturday morning, line weather greeted thc party but 011 the fateful Eunday, a iight soutlierly witli jaiVt made couditions more suitable for f the' sport. The parly had experieuced it fair measurc if success, due mostly tb the cxeellont .narksmam hip of the doCeasod, cvlio was a very good sliot. For ihe eveniilg shoot, Air. GaJbally wbnt across the cliannel and moored his boat in thc ceiilie to be nearer the swan flight. flie banks have gradual beaches for a fair distance and then the channel proper deepens suddenly. ALr. Galbally nad iirought a swan down and it is betieveil was rowing the dingliy to pick the dead bird up. Alessrs Reichenbach and Rusden, who were 011 the other bank some 200 yards avvay and separated, smlucnly lieard a call for help iiut lieard notiiing further. An iinmediate scarcli was made, but owing to ihe darkness, the cause of the tragedy .jould not be ascertained, neither was ihe bodv recovered. .The search was •ontinued yesterday by the poliee, the otiier members of the party and- relaiives who had been notifled of the unlOrtuaatc accident. At itlie time, Air. Gaiually was weariiig thigli vvaders and ilso an annnunition belt iillecl witli cara'idges. It is believed tliat wlicn enJeavouring to pick up the swan, the uinghy capsized, catapulting tlie deceased into the deej) •channel. Tlie late Air. Galbally was a young married inan witli one small son and was a very popular carrying contractor. The tragedy has cast a distinct gloom upou tlie large circle of his lriends and ciients.