SWEPT AWAY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21208, 3 September 1940, Page 7

SWEPT AWAY

TWO MEN IN RIVER ONE IN RESCUE ATTEMPT SEARCHER’S HORSE DROWNED {By Telegraph.—Special to Times) GISBORNE, Monday Two men were drowned and a third narrowly escaped with his life while attempting to cross the Waiapu River on Saturday night. One man was swept away by the stream and the other two got into difficulties while trying to rescue their companion. The victims were:— Mr Hene Porangi Tuhaka. aged 29, of Wai-o-Matatini, married. Mr Ahipene Mikaera Rangi, aged 27, of Wai-o-Matatini, married. The third man, Mr Ngahu Peter Maxwell, of Wai-o-Matatini, was caught in the backwash of the river, but escaped in an exhausted condition. The three men left Tikitiki in the evening, intending to cross the Waiapu River on their way home. The river was rising and rain was falling heavily. When they reached the stream they found it necessary to swim their horses across. Mr Rangi was swept off his horse and disappeared. The other two men reached the bank and went some distance down to look for their companion. While searching in the river both were caught in the backwash and Mr Tuhaka was swept away. Mr Maxwell reached the bank exhausted. Searchers went out yesterday and both bodies were recovered. One of the searchers also was caught in the river and his horse was drowned, but he was able to reach the bank. LITTLE GIRL KILLED IN PATH OF LORRY PLAYING IN STREET (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday

While playing on the street near her home in Otahuhu shortly before two o’clock this afternoon, Ruth Evelyn Lynne, aged three and a-half years, was knocked down by a motor-lorry and killed. The child was playing with her brother, aged seven, near a heavy motor-lorry owned by Crystal Aerated Waters, Limited, which was stationary while the driver, Mr A. C. Edwards, was delivering supplies to residents in Hokonui Road. As the lorry backed out of the street, the driver felt a bump, and on stopping his vehicle found the girl lying between the front and rear wheels. When Dr. E. R., Lange arrived the child was dead. An inquest was opened and adjourned sine die.

ROOF BEAM FALLS

CARPENTER SERIOUSLY HURT (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday Two meri were injured, one seriously, when one of the main beams of the roof of a building at Kaiwarra fell today. Mr D. McElroy, carpenter, 169 Seatoun Heights Road, received a fractured spine and shock, and Mr C. M. Brooks, labourer, 174 Vivian Street, fractured ribs and shock. Mr McElroy’s condition was reported tonight to be serious.