Aitutaki

Lavish Wedding At

10-Years-Old C.I. Boating Tragedy Recalled

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Nov. 22.

festivities of unusual lav . ” ishness for the outer islands of the Cook Group took place in Aitutaki on November 2, when Ponia Maka, eldest son of Maka Beritane, was married to Naomi MacLeod, eldest daughter of the late J. E. MacLeod, of Atiu.

Captain A. A. Luckham, C.8.E., acted as best man and the bride was given away by Mr. Robert McKegg, managing director of the Cook Is. Trading Co. Over 100 persons sat down to lunch in the large copra shed on Messrs. Jagger and Harvey’s premises, where a still greater number were invited to a dance the same evening. Maka Beritane, the bride groom’s father, has been in charge of

Jagger and Harvey’s Aitutaki business for the past 20 years, and is probably one of the most successful traders in the Group.

The wedding recalls a tragedy of 10 years ago, when the bride’s father was drowned off Atiu reef, following the cap sizing of a small sailing boat.

Leaving shore with eight natives and his nine-years-old son, Mr. MacLeod in tended to return on Saturday afternoon.

A fresh sea was running and some dis tance from land the boat capsized, the tin baler sinking. Despite one of the nat ives swimming ashore and informing the Resident Agent, nothing was done beyond a half-hearted and unsuccessful attempt to launch a boat through the surf.

During the night one native died from exposure and two others who started out for the shore, were never again seen.

The remainder, crouching in the water logged boat, took turns at holding the little boy. By Sunday afternoon they had drifted close in to the reef on the weather side of the island, where a heavy surf was pounding the coral. Into this they now swam, the least exhausted bearing MacLeod’s son on his back. All the nat ives managed to reach land, but Mr. Mac- Leod was last seen struggling in the grip of the huge seas. The little lad died from the effects of his exposure the following day.

Mr. MacLeod was a son of Dr. James MacLeod, well known in Sydney medical circles.

The Wedding Group.