Climb Down Cliff To Salvage Dory

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30739, 1 May 1965, Page 3

Climb Down Cliff To Salvage Dory

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, April 30.

Three Auckland men have descended the cliffs at South Head, Manukau Harbour, to claim salvage rights to the Japanese dory stranded on the beach below.

Joined by two girl companions, they stood guard over their prize tonight as heavy seas crashed on to the lonely beach. The 30-foot fishing dory was reported by the coaster Mamaku as she left the harbour on Thursday. The discovery attracted a number interested in salvage today. The first to reach the scene, Messrs D. E. Messenger, aged 35, C. R. Scattergood, aged 27, and A. Chappell, aged 26, all of 31 Sussex street, Grey Lynn, were at South Head before dawn.

They scrambled down the 300 ft cliffs at first light and boarded the dory about 6 a.m. Mr Messenger said the dory showed signs of recent occupation. They found groceries, packets of cigarettes, blankets, bamboo fishing poles and a Japanese cap on board.

The boat was not holed and her diesel engine was in working order. The men, who had looked up the laws of salvage in an encyclopaedia, carved their names on the bows of the dory. Throughout the day others reached the beached craft, including two men who rode up on a motor-cycle at low tide. The Blockhouse Bay brothers. Messrs D. R. and J. R. Gillbanks, crossed the Manukau in a 15ft runabout bringing ropes and timberjacks to winch the dory free. They reached South Head about 5.45 tonight, but when they waded ashore they found they were too late. The Grey Lynn trio were sitting tight on their prize. They had been joined by two girl companions and were preparing to try to salvage the boat. Mr D. R. Gillbanks said it was blowing a gale tonight

and he did not think the occupants of the dory had a show of floating it. The waves were too high. The Marine Department and the Auckland Harbour Board are waiting for the weather to improve before inspecting the dory. The district administrative officer of the Marine Department (Mr R. A. Squire) said the question of salvage rights would have to be handled by the Collector of Customs in Auckland (Mr C. H. Levy), who is also Receiver of Wrecks.