MAORI BOY HEROES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 278, 15 April 1911, Page 5

MAORI BOY HEROES

DROWNING FATALITY AT WAIKATO HEADS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Particulars have been received ol the drowning of three Maoris at the Waikato Heads. Hori Whari Tamihana (18 years), Toba Whare Tamihana (13 years), and Hori Taro (12 years), were drowned, and Tiki Whare Tamihana (15 years) was saved. The two girlq wer« fishing from'a boat in the tVaikato river, and got into a strong current, with the result that they were capsized over the bar. The two boys, seeing their difficulties, took a rob-roy canoe, and went to the rescue. They fearlessly followed the girls over the bar, and caught the other boat, making their's fast to it. Both boats got into the breakers, which were very heavy, and capsized, the whole four Maoris h»ing taken out to sea. Mr. Coboum ana Mr. E. Spargo, witnessing their plight, put out quickly in another boat, but were unable to render assistance. Some time after, Mr. Coboum, from a point of vantage, saw a boat half a mile along the coast in the surf, and proceeded thither. On arrival he found a boy and girl clinging to it. Being single-handed, at great risk he went breast deep in the surf, and saved the girl. The boy ww struck on his forehead by the boat and sank. The boy and girl had been two hours in the water. Several people saw them carried over the bar, and speak of the heroism of the two school boys.