SUVA KETCH IN DISTRESS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29232, 16 June 1960, Page 12

SUVA KETCH IN DISTRESS

Boat 300 Miles OffN-Z.

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 15. An Auckland rescue launch is racing to the aid of a ketch in distress 300 miles north of North Cape. The ketch, the 80-ft, 128-ton Maeuata. from Suva, has two New Zealanders and several Fijians on beard. The New Zealanders are Mr Roy Lidgard, a boatbuilder, of Auckland, and Warrant-Officer Michael Tiller, who is in charge of the R.N.Z.A.F. marine section at Lauthala Bay, Fiji. Warrant-Officer Tiller is believed to be 411 with pleurisy. The Macuata's sails blew out when she met bad weather two days ago on a voyage from Suva to Auckland. She is believed to be having engine trouble and to be leaking. Mr Udgard’s son, Mr Jim Lidgard, is in the rescue launch, Ngaroma, which left Auckland tonight carrying spare sails for the ketch.

The Ngaroma belongs to the Auckland Search and Rescue Organisation and is skippered by Captain J. Lawler, a personal friend of the Lidgard family. The Ngaroma put to sea after Captain Lawler received a radio message from Mr Lidgard, senasking for help. It will be about three and a half days before the ships rendezvous. Radio signals from the Maeuata were reported to be growing faint tonight. Two fishing boats, the Sandra and the Silver Spray, are in a position to relay weak messages. These boats, both based on Auckland, are in the North Cape area.

Warrant-Officer Tiller, who was navigating the Maeuata. was thought to have injured himself when he complained of tight breathing and chest pains. An Auckland doctor ir. radio contact with the ketch through Musick Point diagnosed the trouble as pleurisy. Mr Lidgard, sen., is also an experienced navigator. He brought the Ngaroma down from Fiji to Auckland a few years ago.

Warrant-Officer Tiller comes from Cabbage Bay, near Coromandel. He is aged about 30 and is married with a young family. Not long ago he navigated a 32-ft yacht from Fiji to Auckland. The Maeuata is a former Islands trading vessel which has been laid up in Suva for many months.