THREE LIVES LOST.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 April 1921, Page 4

THREE LIVES LOST.

A BOATING FATALITY. PARTY OF MAORIS CAPSIZED. RESCUE PARTY IN PERIL. Three Maoris were drowned, and the lives of a rescue party were in peril, in a boating fatality off Oaonui yesterday. The drowned are: Monday Mitchell (Oaonui). Jimmy Rangi (Rahotu). Peepi (Normanby). A party of five Maoris left Oaonui on a fishing expedition off the coast. There was a fairly considerable swell, and the boat capsized, the anchor keeping the boat from righting itself. Two of the Maoris got ashore, but the other three were drowned. The boat was about two miles out. and C- Waro and Waiau managed to get hold of the oars. The former reached the shore safely, though greatly exhausted, and brought news of the disaster. Word was immediately sent to the settlers, and Mr. Cleghorn, a powerful swimmer from Opunake, was ’phoned for.

In the outside breakers (about 400 yards out) could be seen Waiau struggling for his life, the waves apparently being too many for him. A boat was secured by Mr. Cleghorn, who, with three Maoris, made for Waiau, who was got aboard with difficulty, and then a breaker took charge of the boat, which capsized. Cleghorn secured a hold of Waiau, and assisted by some floating timber from the boat, reached the beach safely. By this time the predicament of the three Maoris from the rescue boat became very serious, but chiefly by Cleghorn’s efforts they reached shore safely. Indeed, our correspondent states, they owe their lives absolutely to Cleghorn’s resource and courage. The upturned boat gradually drifted seawards, whilst the first boat also drifted out of sight.

The drowned Maoris were all middleaged. Up to a late hour last night there was no sign of the bodies of the missing Maoris.