BLAZING LAUNCH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 43, 20 February 1935, Page 9

BLAZING LAUNCH.

OCCUPANTS' LUCKY ESCAPE.

MAROONED ON ROCKS.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) TAUPO, Tuesday.

Fire, caused by a backfire from the engine, completely destroyed the hire launch Moana last night. Those on board were able to reach shallow water shortly before the boat sank.

The Moana, which was owned by Mr. L. Newdick, was taking Mr. and Mrs. John Russell, of Dannevirke, from the houseboat at Kawakawa Bay to the fishing grounds at the mouth of the Waihaha stream, on the western shore of Lake Taupo. Shortly before 8 p.m., when the launch was about half a mile from the stream, the engine back-fired and ignited the engine room. The engineer, a Maori named Sam Tupara, rushed to the cockpit for the fire extinguisher and played it on the flames, but the petrol tank had caught alight and blazed furiously. A box of sand was also thrown on the flames, but without effect. Fortunately a light breeze was carrying the blazing craft towards the shore, and by the time the cockpit was threatened by the flames the occupants were able to wade to some rocks at the foot of a sheer cliff. The fire spread rapidly, and a few minutes after the launch had been abandoned it was burnt to the water's edge and broke in half. In spite of the brilliant glare, nobody noticed the fire, and the party spent an uncomfortable night marooned on the rocks. Not until early this morning was their plight noticed by the launch Sunbeam, which at once came to their rescue. The party were taken to the houseboat, and later in the day they arrived in Taupo, suffering no ill-effects from their alarming experience. The Mpana was used as a tender to Mr. Newdick's houseboat at Kawakawa Bay. It was not insured, and Mr. Newdick estimates its value at about £200.,