DOUBLE FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1932, Page 4

DOUBLE FATALITY

TWO WOMEN DROWNED. AT HENDE’S FACE CROSSING. BELOW AVAIHO. A double drowning fatality occurred yesterday afternoon at llende’s Face five miles below AVazluo, when two sisters named Paterson a.tui Johnston lost their lives. The two ladies, one of whom was: married and the <otner single, blit whose particular identity is at present unknown, left Keller’s Hotel Hokitika yesterday morning about 9.30 o’clock’ in a five seater Essex car No. 15250, bound for AYeheka. They were seen at Mt. Hercules on tire way down, but did not stop* at Waiho, passing through there atid proceeding towards AYeheka. They apparently crossed Hende’s Face crossing safely and proceeded on but were held up by the AA’aikukupa Creek, which was in flood, and! had to return. On the way back: they ran down into Hende’s Face crossing and the car - stopped in the bed of the creek crossing.

The ladies must have got out of the car, and were swept over the crossing into deeper water below and’ drowned. There was no witness of the accident, but the car when found WUs still intact in the creek bed; full of luggage. The bodies were recovered, on# being found lost evening close to-the scene of the accident and the other this morning about 100 yards lower down the creek. The bodies with the car have been removed to AVaiho. There was some difficulty in identifying the ladies, it not being known, at present which is the married one or her name. Their ages are about 45 and 50 years. The ladies are supposed to represent the Modern Dress Company of Auckland. One was about sft. lin., and the other sft. 4m. in height. Mr M. Sullivan of AVelieka who came from AYeheka yesterday morning stated the crossing * was normal at 10 o’clock yesterday, there not having been any rain at AA’elreka. on Saturday or Sunday morning, though he ran into rain on his way up. He passed the ladies near AY’ataroa, bridge on bis way.

The Police to-day have been making numerous enquiries over the Dominion with a view to identifying the victims definitely, but so far no further news is to hand. The ladies came from Christchurch, being sent to Kellers Hotel from the City Hotel, Christchurch. They arrived here on Saturday. The crossing where the fatality occurred is stated to be one of the safest on that portion of the road. It is considered there would nob be two feet of water oh the crossing at the time.