“An inquest into the death of Maurice J. Durrant, of Wanganui, a Territorial, who was drowned in the Manawatu River, near Rangitane, was held by the coroner, Mr. A. J. Graham. Lance-Corporal M. J. Casey stated that about 1.30 p.m. on January 30, a section engaged on a route march arrived at the Manawatu River and decided to test the river for crossing. Durrant volunteered to do this and entered the water. Durrant was nearly across when he called out: "Hurry, you chaps; I'll be in camp before you." He then took another pace and went up to his shoulders in water. Deceased then called out that he had lost his rifle. As he had been skylarking on the way across, everybody thought he was still larking. However, Durrant was next seen drifting with the current and they called out to him, but he did not reply. After drifting a little further Durrant was heard to call out "Help" and "Hurry." Deceased was a good swimmer, but he disappeared. The coroner stressed the necessity for extreme care in testing New Zealand rivers when returning a verdict oi accidental drowning.”

[Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 36, 12 February 1942, Page 9]