CAPSIZE OF YACHT

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28217, 4 March 1957, Page 8

CAPSIZE OF YACHT

GIRLS INJURED ON ROCKS (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH. March 3. Pounded by surging seas against rocks covered in part by razor-sharp shell-fish, two young women members of the New Plymouth Yacht Club, Misses Jeanette Grey and Anne Newman. were injured when their Z-class yacht Dolphin was wrecked on Saddleback island, off New Plymouth, yesterday afternoon. Miss NeWman was badly cut about the legs and feet, and to a lesser extent about the face. Miss 'Grey was also badly buffeted and suffered bruises and abrasions. Both girls were wearing lifejackets. Miss Newman, in particular, exhausted by the pummelling she had received, had almost given up hope when she finally reached the dubious security of rocks that were high and dry one moment and feet under water at the next. Misses Newman and Grey had rounded Saddleback island and were preparing to run to shore with the wind. They accidentally gybed, and the yacht, out of control, raced in towards the rocks. Miss Newman slipped overboard and Miss Grey turned the yacht into the wind to keep it on an even keel while she tried to drag Miss Newman aboard. • Driven by wind and sea, the Dolphin went steadily closer to the rocks. Eventually the yacht rolled over and Misses Newman and Grey were threwn about on the rocks until, both bleeding freely from cuts, they secured’a foothold. They were rescued by the New Plymouth Yacht Club’s rescue launch Hinemaru.

ONE KILLED, FOUR INJURED CAR HITS CONCRETE POLE (New Zealand Press Association) LEVIN, March 3. An elderly man died from injuries in the Palmerston North Hospital tonight from injuries received when the car in which he was a passenger struck a concrete power pole in northern Oxford street, Levin, this afternoon. He was William John Pope, aged 70, of Frankmore avenue, Johnsonville. The four other occupants of the car were also admitted to the hospital with injuries. They were:—William Stephen Fisher, sen., aged 65,-of 47 Kipling street, Porirua; Mrs Fisher, aged 56; William Stephen Fisher, jun., aged 34, the driver of the car, and Robert Stephen McMillan, aged 10, of 83 Mungavin avenue, Porirua. The condition of the injured persons was tonight stated to be satisfactory. The impact shattered the pole and dragged it partly out of the grotmd. The car was extensively damaged.

MAN WOUNDED IN STOMACH

RIFLE ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED (New Zealand Press Association) NEW PLYMOUTH, March 3. A 30-year-old married man accidentally shot himself through the stomach with a .22 calibre rifle at Ararata just before noon today. The injured man, Duncan Dowman. of Ararata, an employee of the Hawera County Council, was in a serious condition tonight. Mr Dowman had gone outside his house with the rifle to get his bicycle when the rifle was discharged. No-one saw the occurrence. Mr Dowman was taken to Hawera Hospital by ambulance.

PINNED BENEATH TRACTOR

MAN FOUND DEAD ON FARM (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 3. A man was killed by a tractor overturning at Rangiahua. North Auckland, about midnight on Friday. He was Walter Harris, aged 30, married, with one child. He was driving the tractor along the road when the front wheels mounted a low bank and the machine overturned. He was found about an hour later pinned under the tractor.

TWO HURT WHEN TANK SLIPS

(New Zeaiana Press Association) ROTORUA. March 3. A railway employee and a truck driver are both in hospital after a mishap at the Rotorua' railway station. John Dickson, married, the driver, suffered a fractured spine. His condition this morning was reported as satisfactory. Phillip . Anthony Hutt, married, of Amahou street, was admitted with a suspected fractured arm, and other arm and leg injuries. It is believed the accident occurred when a steel tank slipped while it was being loaded with a fork lift.

Farmer Drowned Near Tauranga (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 3. A man was drowned at the ocean beach at Omanu, near Mount Maunganui, about 12.30 p.m. on Friday. He was Samuel Stewart, aged 56. a farmer, of Blacks road, Te Puke. Mr Stewart, who was accompanied to the beach by his wife and sister-in-law, got into difficulties in the surf. His wife tried to rescue him but was unable to reach him.