TANKER RETURNS TO HEADS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27796, 22 October 1955, Page 8

TANKER RETURNS TO HEADS

LAUNCH BRINGS SICK COOK ASHORE

CREW MEMBER ESCORTED ABOARD BY POLICE When the 10,854-ton Swedish tanker Pacific Clipper was three hours out from Lyttelton yesterday, she turned back to put ashore the first cook, Mr Sven Svensson, who had suddenly become ill. The launch which went out to meet the tanker as she lay, hove to, off Port Cooper also carried another crew member who had been convicted on an assault charge in the Lyttelton Magistrate’s Court an hour before. The tanker was about 30 miles from Lyttelton when the master (Captain S. Floden) called the shore radio station at Wellington to ask for a launch with a doctor to meet the ship at the heads. But the message, which was passed by the Swedish radio operator, was misunderstood and the report, which reached Lyttelton about 10.30 a.m., was that six men were ill and had to be put ashore. It was not until the launch, Ngatoanui, had reached the ship’s side that it was realised a mistake had been made. A radio message was passed to the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s signal tower, and relayed to the St. John Ambulance, that only one ambulance would be required. With Dr. N. Chambers, of Lyttelton, in the launch were the manager of the Canterbury Steam Shipping Company (Mr C. H. Crombie), the agents, and Constables W. N. Parker and R. Strachari, who were escorting William .John Makin, an Australian, second motorman aboard the tanker.

When the Ngatoa-nui returned to Lyttelton, Mr Svensson was transferred to the ambulance which took him to the Christchurch Public Hospital. His condition last evening was reported to be satisfactory. When Makin appeared i” the Magistrate’s Court at 10.30 a.m., to answer a charge of assaulting Alexander Keith, a 71-year-old night watchman, at the oil wharf on Thursday evening, he pleaded guilty. After he told Messrs W. T. Lester and T. A. Maher, Justices of the Peace: “I don’t remember it, anyway,” and admitted being drunk at the time, he was advised to plead not guilty. Keith said that when Makin slipped as he was going aboard about 7 p.m. he went to help him to his feet, but accused threw a small bottle at him, saying: “That’s for you,” and twice knocked him to the ground. Makin was convicted, and Senior Sergeant J. L. Graham said that when he was arrested, he had only 30s on him. His ship would be off the heads, “because of some other business,” just before mid-day. “I am deeply disgusted at myself,” said Making He was ordered to pay £1 15s costs, conditional upon his being placed aboard his ship “at the earliest opportunity.” When the Ngatoa-nui left, at 11.45 a.m., Makin was escorted aboard. An hour later, after Mr Svensson had been carried aboard the launch, the Pacific Clipper headed for sea again. Her next port is Napier.