FIRE AT SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 10

FIRE AT SEA.

LAUNCH DESTROYED?

REPORT MADE TO POLICE. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHANGAREI, this day. Although information is scarce, it is feared that a launch, with two men and some children 'aboard, was burnt at sea off Whananaki, about 20 miles north of Whangarei, on Wednesday morning. No trace of the launch, if it was burnt, has been found, and ite is not known whether the occupants escaped or not. For some reason the occurrence was not reported to the authorities until to-day.

On Tuesday night a launch without a dinghy, and with two men and some children aboard, anchored on the coast otT Whananaki Harbour. Early on Wednesday morning a settler's child saw smoke and flames out at sea. The child immediately told his father, who obtained a dinghy and rowed with all speed towards the flames. When he got there, there was nothing to be seen but heavy smoke lying 011 the water. Another Whananaki man saw the dinghy, but when lie got to the scene, all that he found was the settler in an exhausted state after his strenuous row. No trace of the launch was seen. At the height of the fire the launch could not be seen, so thick were the smoke and flames. The occurrence was reported to the police to-day by Mr. W. Eraser, representing the Marine and Customs Departments, 011 receipt of the news. So far the launch is unidentified. No launch has been reported missing, as many craft depart 011 cruises of a month or more, and do not report their movements. Eroin the description supplied to the police, the launch was of the torpedostern type, with a raised top, glass windows and in a generally dirty condition. Two men were seen in the cockpit.