DROWNING FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1923, Page 2

DROWNING FATALITY

FOUR LIVES LOST. [by tf.lko it a bji - rut t-rnss association.] TAI RANGA. Oct. 2-. The f.oi-.-t tragedy yet known in Tnurnnga Harbour occurred tit the mouth of the Maunganui. near the entrance on Saturday afternoon. Seven children of a local plumber. Mr John Mill, rowed from the town to .Maunganui early in the afternoon. in a twelve-foot dinghy. On their return, the dinghy was swamped in a choppy sea. about live hundred yards ti'om the shore. The children all tried to cling to the dinghy, but it continuously rolled over, and all ot them except one lost their holds, and floated away. The names of the children were:— l-’red. aged 21 years; Rimella. aged 20 years; Bruce 17 years; Arnold years; Linen. II years; Hubert, 8 years, and Melvin, six years. None of ilietn could swim much, except Bruce, but he was the only one w In, had Ills bouts oil. No otto saw the accident, but their cries attracted the attention of the residents near the beach, and Fred was rescued on the bottom-upturned boat, and the lad Arnold ami the girl Linea were also picked up. floating on I heir backs, with their arms interlocked. Melvin was also nicked up. but life was extinct. The bodies of Rimella. Bruce and Hubert have not yet been recovered.