Coastguards Of The South.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 270, 13 November 1937, Page 8 (Supplement)

Coastguards Of The South.

(Continued from front page.)

The appeal met with an immediate and enthusiastic response from the people of Canterbury. The Government promised a generous subsidy on the amount raised locally. The Rescue, and the Aid —a smaller boat kept at Scarborough by the institution —came to town for their cruise through the streets. The boats were manned by members of an opera comjwny that happened to be in Christchurch at the time, and this, of course, was an added attraction which helped the appeal along considerably.

It was not long before an order could be placed for a new boat. Early in 1030 it reached Lyttelton. It cost £3000, weighed four tons, had an engine of 21-24 horsepower, a speed of from 12 to 14 knots, and was selfrighting and self-emptying. The new boat was brought round to Sumner by her delighted crew, and launched following a ceremony on June 28, 1930. The boat was dedicated by Archbishop Julius, and christened by the Mayoress of Sumner (Mrs. W. H. Nicholson), her name being the popular choice of Rescue 11. Since then the Rescue TI. has been ready for all calls. She has performed many rescues, one of the most exciting incidents of her career being the search ior two youths who had drifted eight miles out to sea in a small boat. The lifeboat was assisted in the search by directions from the air, this being the first time that aeroplane and lifeboat had combined in such an undertaking. In the yachting season, upsets on the bar are frequent. ' Sumner residents rush for the foreshore when they hear the harsh Scream of the syren, but, however fast they rush, the lifeboat crew is there before them. The Rescue is run into the water and speeds to the assistance of those struggling in the angry breakers of the bar. Two or three more lives are added to the tally of those saved by the lifeboat; but it is all in the day's work for the cr?w, whose only concern is the preservation of human life.

Since then the Rescue IT. has been ready for all calls. She has performed many rescues, one of the most exciting incidents of her career being the search ior two youths who had drifted eight miles out to sea in a small boat. The lifeboat was assisted in the search by directions from the air, this being the first time that aeroplane and lifeboat had combined in such an undertaking.

In the yachting season, upsets on the bar are frequent. ' Sumner residents rush for the foreshore when they hear the harsh scream of the syren, but, however fast they rush, tbe lifeboat crew is there before them. The Rescue is run into the water and speeds to the assistance of those struggling in the angry breakers of the bar. Two or three more lives are added to the tally of those saved by the lifeboat; but it is all in the day's work for the crpw, whose only concern is the preservation of human life.