Tragic Ending To Launch Excursion

Chronicle (Levin), 5 December 1949, Page 4

Tragic Ending To Launch Excursion

Press AssoczationJ

(Per

ROTORUA, Dec, 4,. Three qf five occupants of a small shallow-draught motor launch,- were drowned in Lake Rotorua on Saturday afternoon and in spite of a continuous search m daylight since then, the bodies have not been recovered, The victuns were:— ronald te kiri (or -james), aged 28, married with two children, of Ohinemutu. • gordon steed, aged 26, single. anthony spain, aged about 20, . single, . All were employed by Rotorua Tiles Limited of- which the manager is Mr. C. G. Spain; father of the last named victim and owner of the oraft. Between 2 p.m. and 2,30 p,m. on Satm-day the boat was just being turned after a run. The lake surface was choppy at the time - and there was a steady westerly. The three Vlctims and Keith Te Kiri, a brother of Ronald, were sitting on top of the cabin while Owen Steed, a brother of Gordon Steed, was at the coritrols. As the boat turned side on to the wind. it listed and shipped water. The four men on top of the -cabin were pitched into the lake. Owen Steed said later ' that he turned the boat and Keith Te Kiri scrambled aboard. The inboard motor then cut out and the boat drifted away from the three in the water. Te Kiri and Steed .were both powerful swimmers and -the latter managed to get his .coat off , this being later recovered. Anthony' Spain could not swim and none. of the men was wearing a lifejacket. By the time a boat had come out from the wharf, a distance of possibly half a mile, the three men had disappeared. It is probable that the bodies are in the deep water channel just beyond a ledge of shallow water and will ev'entually be recovered on the eastern side of the lake.