ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

SHOCKING FATALITY TWO MEN DROWNED AT TE HORO. The whole of the people of the Otaki district received a shock yesterday morning when it became known- that Mr. Herbort Hodge and his son Alfred had been drowned the previous evening whilst net-fishing off the beach at Te Horo, about four miles from Otaki. It appears that the Messrs. Hodge, who aro well-known and well-to-do farmers at To Horo, were netfishing in company with a Mr. Udy (Mr. Herbert Hodge's brothor-in-law) from tho Wairarapa on Monday evening. Shortly after 8 o'clock, when it was nearer dark than dusk, they were dragging in the net, Mr. Udy on the beach, and the Messrs. Hodge up to their necks in water, as owing to the , Tapidly shelving beach the net had to be partly lifted as well as dragged. Mr. Udy is stated to have said that he heard a cry; but took it to be a signal to haul away from the men, whose heads he could see above the water in the tsathering gloom. Then turning to the sea ho missed them, called out, and rushed down to the water's edge, but could see nothing. Feeling conscious that he could do nothing under the circumstances Mr. Udy wont to Otaki and reported the shocking affair to the police. The constable went out to the beach straight away, but could see nothing in the dark. Yesterday morning the search was repaid b}' the discovery on the beach of the body of Mr. Herbert Hodge. The remains were found to have been frightfully mutilated during the few hours they had been in the water. The body was found on the beach opposite the spot where the net had been cast the previous evening. No trace could be found of the body of Mr. Hodge, jun. Some of those who know the beaoh state that it has been infested with big ground sharks this sUmmer ( and it is probable that, whilst standing up to their necks in water, they were attacked by a school of sharks, and dragged under. Mr. Hodge, Ben., leaves » widow (at present on holiday at Rotorua or Auckland), two sons and a daughter. Ho was up till three or four years ago a fanner well known in and around Carterton. The son, who was 28 years of age. was unmarried. He was forme/.'ly well known in_Wairarapa football ciroles, and at one time played for the Petone team. An inquest will be held at Te Horo this morning. MOTOR-CYCLIST INJURED. A motor-cycling accident occurred uear Trentham yesterday evening, a man named David Moore suffering injuries to his head which necessitated his removal to the Hospital. He was riding a motorcycle along the road when he collided with another man who was walking'. Tho cyclist was upset, receiving a scalp Wound. It is not known exaotly how the podestrian fared as the result of the collision. Moore's condition is reported uot to be serious. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) MOTOR-OAR FATALITY. Waipawa, January 12. Whilst travelling from Napier to Feilding yesterday a motor-car containing four occupants—W. R. Clark (Feilding), T. P. Clark (Napier), and two ladies—overturned at the bend on the Hatuma Road. The first-named was pinned underneath and killed; the other occupants escaped with bruises. The accident is attributed to a defect in the steering gear.