FISHING PARTY MAROONED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29179, 13 April 1960, Page 23

FISHING PARTY MAROONED

Rescue After 40 Hours On Island (New Zealand Preu Auociatton) WHANGAREI, April 12. A ztorm-bound fishing party was picked up in high seas and winds about 3 a.m. yesterday from Whale Island, off Karakari Peninsula, by a police party in an Awanui launch. The members of the party, who had been ashore tor more than 40 hours, had little food and water. They were drenched and exhausted when they were taken aboard the launch, but soon recovered when given drinks and food. In the party were Mr and Mrs Mac Matiu, their son Arthur, aged 12, Mr Reihana Matiu, Mr and Mrs Bob Manuel and Messrs Philip Heteraka and Kupa Ru. They went to the five-acre island, where they have a garden and a small bach, intending to fish the nearby hapuku ground during the week-end. When the storm blew up they tried to get back to the mainland a mile away, but their outboard motor was not powerful enough, and their boat was forced back to the island. All they had to eat was some beetroot from the garden and a snapper which they caught from the rocks. The Island’s water supply comes from holes scooped in the beach, and these were made unusable by waves, so the boat was cleaned out and propped up to catch rainwater.