The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, October 24, 1911.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1060, 24 October 1911, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Tuesday, October 24, 1911.

True dreadful boating fatality at Te Wharaugi, full particulars ol which are set out elsewhere in this issue, cast a gloom over the town on Sunday, and continues to be the chief topic of conversation both here and in Palmerston, where the relatives of the victims reside, and are well-known. The catastrophe is unprecedented in the history of Eoxtou. The Manawatu River has levied a heavy toll upon human life in these parts, but drowning fatalities have occurred singly, except in one or two cases, and very tew lives have been lost at the settlement opposite where Sunday’s mishap took place. The scene of Sunday's fatality is the favourite bath-ing-ground ol sea-siders, opposite the residences on the river foreshore, and about half-a-mile from the river’s mouth, and several miles from the whan. A number of motor launches, owned by Palmerston residents, are moored there, and the owners and their friends almost throughout the year make a practice ot spending the week-end there. There is no pier or conveniences at the locality, and the launches are moored in iairly deep water, and in order to reach them flat-bottom boats are used. This class of craft requires skilful handling, particularly it the water is jobbly. In midstream there is a very strong current, and the task of crossing the water in these keeless boats, except by experienced boatmen, is fraught with grave danger. And while on this point we may say that it is nothing snort of miraculous that fatalities such as happened on Sunday have not occurred more irequently. We have seen boat loads of young men and women crossing and re-crossing this stretch of water in “ flatties ” handled by inexperienced young fellows with no lear of the risks they were taking. We have been asked to warn holiday-makers against such foolhardy trips, but previous warnings through these columns and by experienced hands have been ignored. We have had one experience in crossing the river in a iiatbottomed boat, under similar conditions to that which obtained last Sunday, and had it uot been for the skill and experience ot one man the other side would never have been reached —at least by the women and children of the party. If steps are uot taken to prevent the handling of these “coffins” by inexperienced persons, we shall expect to chronicle other mishaps as every year increased numbers spend their holidays at this locality, it is a matter which requires the immediate attention of the Harbour Board.

Tiiosk interested in launches and boating at Te Wharnagi have already discussed the question of erecting a pier at the locality and we are informed that the matter will be dealt with at the next meeting of the Harbour Board. The Board realise that something of the kind is required and. had they the funds, there would be no occasion for delay in its erection. Under the Board’s present straitened financial circumstances, it is impossible to incur any great expense, if anything is to be done it will have to be a joint affair. In any case a temporary pier could be erected tor about and this amount should not be difficult to arrange.