WRECK OF THE GAEL

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27587, 18 February 1955, Page 8

WRECK OF THE GAEL

PARTS SALVAGED BY SPEAR-FISHERMAN (From Our Own Reporter) r February 17. Using compressed air miniature diving equipment, 27-year-o|d David Field, captain of the Nelson Underwater and Spear-fishing Club, spent last week at French Pass salvaging equipment from the 82-ton motor-vessel Gael wrecked heat Okuri Point light on the night of April 19, 1952. In charge of operations was an Admiralty Bay farmer, Mr W. A. Turner, whose 32ft launch Mermaid acted as salvage ship. Working among jagged rocks on the sea bed at depths from 20 to 40ft, the Nelson diver helped to recover the ship’s main engine—a 125 h.p. diesel weighing four and a half tons—a winch, the propeller and shaft, and several fathoms of anchor Chain. Mr Turner and Mr Field intend to return to Okuri Point to recover more wreckage thought to be scattered among the rocks and narrow channels in tbe area. Mr Field has been engaged in underwater swimming for the last four years. Last March at Lake Rotoiti he dived 45ft to recover a 14 h.p. outboard motor lost from a boat seven years before. The motor was found to be in good order, and is still :n use today.