DROWNING FATALITY

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 3 January 1913, Page 5

DROWNING FATALITY

! IN THE AOHONGA RIVER i j FOUR LIVES LOST. News readied Master ton early yesterday morning of a. shocking fatality that occurred at the mouth of tiuj Aohonga river 011 .Now Year's Day. Jt appears that a party consisting of Messrs .Sam Potangaroa, of Masterton ; James Power, junr., Alexander Duncan and Alexander McKonxio ! (the latter being two fencers working on Akitio station) left Aohonga in auC oil launch owned by Mr Potangaroa, and which it was proposed to bring to Masterton by way of Castlepoint. Mr Potangaroa had promised the u® of the launch for the Mastortoir. Park Lake, and "went up specially about Christinas time to procuro it. It would seem that the party had loffc Aohonga for Oastlepoint early .in. tTiss morning, when the launch was swamped, and it is feared tha?» all 'hands drowned, apparently at the mouth of the river. The launch, which was 18ft. long, with, a speed af twelve to fourteen, knots, was found early yesterday morning on the beach, bottom upwards.. Search parties were immediately sent out, but up till last evening thn bodies 'had not been recovered. Both Mr Potangaroa and Mr Powerwere strong swimmers, and it is preI sinned that they lost their lives in trying to save their companions. ! The late Mr Sam Potangaroa was about forty year? of age, and married. His wife was drowned af. Oastlopoinii two or three years ago, and his widow wag a sister of Mrs W. H. Denby, of Lansdowntn The late Mr Potangaroa leaves four children, beside a widow. His wife is at present in a very weak state of health. He had resided in Masterton for many years, and was a son of Mr Sam Potangaroa, a well-known Wairarapa native chief. He had been engaged in the printing; business in Masterton in his early year.9, and was latterly in partnership with Mr W. H. jDcnby in tho Waipoua nurseries. He was a capable athlete, a good mechanic, and a patron of the Masterton Bowling Club, besides being a member of the Caledonian. Society and Masterton branch of the Overseas Club. With all wlio knew him lie was exceedingly popular. The late Mr James Power was a son of Mr James Power, of Aohonga, who is a well-known horseman, and a, brother of Mrs Denby, of Lansdowno. Ho was thirty-two years of age, an<l also married. Ho leaves a widow and fivn children at Aohonga. The two other victims of the disaster arm ear to have been single men, who had proposed coming down with. Mr Potangaroa to the Caledonian 'Society's gathering in Masterton, bu.fc had been delayed on account of tho rouglmes's of the sen.. Mir Denby had himself intiendeel proceeding with, the party to Aohonga. to procure the oil launch, hut, owing to private eiv/ngements, had been unable to get away. Much sympathy will be extended to "Vlr and Mi's Denby. and. the families if tl'i« doeenml. in their bereavement. M*- [Villi'', with Sim Potnuga.ro;*, nnd a son of the late Mr Snm Potmigaroa. leave by motor for the scene of the fatality thig morning.