MANAWATU TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1925, Page 4

MANAWATU TRAGEDY

FATHER AND FOUR CHILDREN DROWNED. [by TELEGRAPH —PER TRESS ASSOCIATION.] PAI/MERSTON NORTH, Aug. 23. Following upon the drowning tragedy in the Orua river last Sunday (thebodies of the three victims of which are still unrecovercd) the Manawatu bar has been visited by another horrifying week-end fatality. Mr Thos. Staff, farmer of Foxton, his two sons (Walter, aged 1", and Alfred aged 13), and his two daughters (Dulcie, aged 17 and Margaret, aged 11), were all drowned at the Manawatu Head, Foxton, on Saturday. The father built a boat for himself, and the party went down the river from Foxton to the river month, evidently with the idea of fishing over the bar. A Maori woman, gathering pipis, saw the frail craft go over the bar, and at the third wave she saw it capsi'if. She heard, their cries for help, and she innnediiately rushed back to the Pilot's house, a mile distant. The pilot’s launch then made a search, but it found nothing whatever. Tiie police wore notified, hut, for some time, nobody knew who had gone over the bar. Some of the bodies were washed ashore this morning. Mrs Staff is left with two small children.