VAIN DASH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1940, Page 8

VAIN DASH.

TO REACH LAND.

LIFEBOATS LAUNCHED

RAPID INRUSH OF WATER.

•maxim ah> nr sbakch.

(By Telegraph—Special Reporter.)

WHANGAREI, this day.

The explosion occurred at 3.30 a.m. and immediately coume wae changed towards land, but the inrush of water precluded any hop* of a safe landfall, and the ship went down at 4.30 a.m.

A* far,ae can be ascertained, none of the passengers, or crew was injured. They were taken off in the ship* life* boate before ehe eank.

Information that something wae amiss wae conveyed to Auckland by a coastal observation post, which at 4 a.m. advised that a vessel was making for the ehore.

Information reached Auckland at 4.20 a.m. and preparations to deal with the emergency were immediately put under way. It is likeJj, although aa yet unconfirmed here, that a distress message was eent by wireless from the doomed ship immediately the explosion occurred. Coaster Requisitioned. Auckland police at 4.40 a.m. telephoned Inspector J. Fox, officer in charge of the North Auckland Police District, who communicated with the secretary of the Whangarei Harbour Board, Mr. W. M. Fraser, and requisitioned the use of a coastal vessel.

Without delay arrangements were completed and the coastal vessel was sent away again within half en hour of her arrival, carrying official* to the ecene of the disaster.

Later advice from Auckland -indicated tli lit the total complement of the Niagara wae 349, comprising 203 members of the crew and 146 passengers.

Inspector Fox said that naval authorities would take charge and, in cooperation with the police, a full investigation -would be made.

The presence of a ship wae'reported to 'Auckland headquarters by the coaetal observation station, the reply being that the ehip would be the Njagara, out-

ward bound. Throughout the night nothing further was eeen, and the first information at the station that all was not right was the sight of a ship heading for land. Bdats And 'Planes In Search. In addition io the ship which, it is understood, wae sent away from Auckland immediately on receipt of the news, a large passenger vessel hastened to the scene, while another vessel, en route for a northern port, also sped to the rescue. "When it was learned that the larger vessels were able to cope with the situation, the smaller veesel continued its journey. Small boats and aeroplanes were used in the search for ship's boate. Apparently they had become separated in the darkness and the haze which covered the eea at the time. The operations were seen from the observation station after daylight. Visibility was still not good, but when the sun broke through the rescue operations were clearly discernible from > the shore. Army headquarters at Whangarei, as well as the police, were beseiged with inquiries throughout the morning, and offer* of assistance were continuous. Inspector Fox said that the town clerk, Mr. L. O. Hall, had offered the use of the Town Hall for accommodation if the passengers and crew were brought to Whangarei, , while citizens offered clothing and other assistance. Provision Fur Survivors. By the vessel which was eent from Whangarei food, drink and clothing were sent. Thie was done with all speed. Despite the early hour, and the speed with which arrangements were

made for the dispatch of a veesel from Whangarei, Mrs. G. Gilchrist packed a hamper containing food, cocoa and spirits. This wae typical of the way in which Whangarei citizens rallied.

News of the disaster eoon spread and there wae no delay on the part of people ready to help. Official action, too, was prompt. On the relief vessel from Whangarei went Senior Sergeant A. Henderson, Detective J. B. Finlay and several constables, Dr. J. G. Campbell, and Mr. W. M. Fraeer, secretary of the Harbour Board.

Sergeant W. B. Grainger and a eonetable were eent by car to the coastal region from which the disaster had been reported. In a Teport to Inspector Fox by telephone Sergeant Grainger said that operation* were visible and that the vessels were standing by.

Whangarei launch owners were also active, many making the trip down harbou to give help if required. Motorists coming from Auckland report that all along the const beaches were being patrolled by residents and continuous watch being kept.

The sea to-day is calm. As the tidal eet ie westerly there are no prospects of wreckage being washed ashore. Nevertheless, a watch is being maintained in the event of any of the ship's boat* which might not have been picked up being sighted.

Authentic information was at first difficult to obtain. Reports from the Whangarei Heads district indicated that a seaplane was operating in the vicinity and that two or three local boats had put out to sea.

Emergency Committee Called. ' When the inspector of police rang the secretary of the Whangarei Harbour Board, Mr. W. M. Fraser, at 5.30 a.m., the Harbour Area Emergency Committee was immediately set working , . -Mr. Fraftcr, aft&r communicating with the local ageut of the Northern Steamship Company and the head office in Auckland, was able to board a vessel which had berthed at Whangarei only half an (hour earlier, and leave for the scene. Several launches put out from Whangarei, while a scow in the vicinity of One Tree Point also turned to proceed to the scene of the disaster.

"This shows the necessity of an emergency committee," said the controller of the Hanbour Area Emergency Committee, Mr. E. L. Whimp. ','As deputy controller, Mr. Fraser hae proceeded to the scene. Another deputy controller, Mr. A. McKcnzie, immediately saw to the dispatch of launches." The controller paid a tribute to launch owners who had eo willingly co-operated. He had also received many offers from motorists to convey rescued passengers from Port Whangarei, if they were to be landed there.