Drownings Cast

Gloom Over

Cook Islands

From W. H. Percival,

in Rarotonga The tragic drowning of a

much-loved clergyman and his

son —the Rev. Tuatakiri Pitt man, and Tumu Rakau—cast gloom over Rarotonga at the end

of April.

M R - Pittman was quietly-spoken,

t and kindly. Tumu Kakau Pittman was a strong, athletic man, who was to have been elected captain of the Ngatangiia-Matavera Rugby Club this year. He leaves a widow and three sons; his father leaves a widow.

The tragedy, which has shocked Rarotongans, occurred on a night reef hshmg expedition to Rarotonga’s southern reef, between Papua passage and the dangerous Avaavaroa passage, on April 27. It was almost an ideal night for reef fishing.

When the two men failed to re turn home the next morning police were told, and a full-scale search was launched with volunteers from all over the island.

Tekake William, the champion skin-diver of the Cook Islands, searched Avaavaroa passage with his companion, Akeau Kairua, without result. Later 14 divers took part in the search, some of them pearl shell divers from Manihiki and Penrhyn, while scores of others explored the reef, cranny by cranny.

Tumu Rakau’s body was found the next day, but after five days the search for his father’s body was abandoned.

Hundreds attended Tumu Rakau’s funeral, including the High Com missioner, Mr. L. J. Davis, and the Premier, Mr. Albert Henry.

Father and son were both experi enced reef fishermen, and it is pre sumed that in a sudden rain squall the father stumbled or was swept into the turbulent waters of Avaavaroa passage, and that Tumu went to his rescue. Probably both men were sucked down by whirlpools. Three or four other people have drowned in that passage.

In early May a fish drive which had been organised in the area for the farewell visit to the Cooks of the Governor-General of New Zea land, Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson, was cancelled as a mark of respect to the dead men.