WRECK OF THE KOA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 132, 5 June 1926, Page 5

WRECK OF THE KOA.

CREW'S TRYING EXPERIENCE.

I LAUNCH SMASHED TO PIECES. Further details concerning the wreck of the launch Koa on Thursday night show that ill luck dogged the little vessel from the time she "left Auckland : until she struck the beach at Twilight i Bay. i In the first place the launch was compelled to remain at Awanui for nearly three weeks, waiting for news of the schooner departure from Auckland. When off Parengarenga Heads during last week-end she encountered boisterous weather, and was finally compelled to seek shelter in the Awanui stream. There it was learned j that the Resolution had sailed from I Auckland, and the Koa at once made for North Cape, but, as the schooner was not to be seen the crew of the Koa decided to proceed to Norfolk Island on I their own. Owing to strong northeasterly winds and heavy seas, how- { ever, the launch was unable to make any progress, and put into Twilight Bay to I wait until the conditions improved. Throughout Wednesday and Thursday the Koa rode out a heavy swell, but ion the afternoon of the second day one j of the two anchors was lost, and a third had to be put out. The weather then became more violent, and as the launch was in grave dange~ it was decided to j run her on the beach. Before this was done the members of the crew donned I lifebelts, and after a severe buffeting in the' surf they succeeded in getting ashore in safety. The launch, which was driven i well on to the beach, was battered to J pieces. j Yesterday morning the shipwrecked i party walked to the lighthouse, and by semaphore signals were instructed to make for Mr. Keane's station at Te Paki. When half the journey had been covered they were met by a party with horses, and were then "conducted to the station, which was reached yesterday evening. The party. who are now being cared for at the station, are Ito connect with a steamer leaving , Parengarenga for Auckland on WednesI day next. j A tribute to the behaviour of his crew and to the efforts of the lighthouseI keeper at Cape Maria is paid by Mr. V. j Harrison, the owner of the launch.