CANOE RETURNS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 45, 22 February 1929, Page 10

CANOE RETURNS.

NIGHT OUT ON COOK STRAIT. MR. HARWELL GETS HALF-WAY. STRONG SOUTHERLY BREEZE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent. 1 WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. Charles Barwell got only half-way across Cook Strait in liis effort to crots from the North to the South Island in a canvas canoe. A fresh southerly breeze sprang up with the flood tide and he therefore returned, landing inside Mana Island.

On an almost rippleless sea, Mr. Barwell set out from Makara, eight miles north-west of Wellington, at 7.10 on Wednesday night in his tiny collapsible canoe. He expected the journey to occupy about 115 hours, and to land, if liis attempt sue- ' I, somewhere betwe«".i Wellington Head and Cape Koamaru.

Mr. Barwell's departure was witnessc' by about a do/en local residents, who helped to carry his canoe down to the sea and launch it. As the craft pushed' out from the beach the little assemblage gave three rousing cheers. In less than ten minutes Mr. Barwcll had rounded the point of Ohariu Bay and was moving in the direction of the Three Brothers.

The adventurer was eager to lie off as he always finds the filial preparations ju»t prior to one of his undertakings very nerve-wracking. He asked that his thanks be conveyed to the fishermen and residents of Uhariu Bay. who hail been so kind and helpful to him.

Questioned as to his probable landingplace. Mr. Barwell admitted that although he was aiming for the Three Brothers, he was doubtful as to where he would be carried by the tide. There were many small bays on the coast between Wellington Head and Cape Koatnaru in which he could land. He said that his canoe would only average about one mile and a-half per hour, and although the distance in a direct line was only lt> miles, he might have to row anything up to .30 miles.

Mr. Barwell s]*?nt Tuesday evening in Wellington at the theatre, but early next morning he decided to 1 ave Makara at p.m. The winds being fairly strong, however, he decided to postpone the atfempt. The time for the departure was fixed for seven o'clock. At the last moment he decided to substitute his Old lipbt paddles for his heavy six-foot ones. He had tested them both over a measured distance, and found that the old paddles gave the same result as the heavv or.es, but involved le?s exertion.

The fishermen unanimously advised him to leave that evening. The conditions had been perfect in the Strait all day, and were likely to remain so. Acting on their advice and his own opinion, Mr. Barwell decided to make the attempt. He was fortunate in having a threequarter moon and a cloudless sky. At the time of his departure there was a slight haze over the South Islar.d. Before leaving, Mr. Barwell had a good meal. As he had with him a methylated spirit stove of his own invention he hoped to be able to make hot tea during the night. Not the least important article aboard the diminutive craft was the inner-tube of a bicycle tyre, which Mr. Barwell intended to use as a life belt should disaster overtake him.

The canoe had no light, although the provision for one was suggested to Mr. Barwell before his departure on his hazardous venture.