TUG TAKES KETCH IN TOW

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 151, 12 April 1950, Page 4

TUG TAKES KETCH IN TOW

RESCUE IN HIGH SEAS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 11. The Wellington tug Taioma, ordered out soon after midday to rescue the 25-foot ketch Muritonga, in difficulties 30 miles south-east of Cape Palliser, took the ketch in tow shortly before 10 o'clock to-night. ' The ketch left Napier on Saturday for Wellington, where she is to be sold. The ketch was sighted in very heavy seas at 9 o’clock and was taken in tow within an hour. A Marine Department official in Wellington to-night said that he expected the two vessels to reach Wellington about 5 a.m. to-morrow. In the high seas running in Cook Strait the tug would make slow headway to Wellington. The tug had made all possible speed to the yacht but would take much longer to return. The two vessels had been in radio communication before 9 p.m., added the official. All on board appeared to be safe at the time the message was sent. , The tug had done very well to find the yacht in the very adverse weather.

The skipper of the yacht is Mr G. Birchall, and -one of the crew' is Mr lan Howe, of Napier, who built the radio transmitter that enabled aid to be summoned. ' ■