Kaikoura Men See Lifeboat

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31761, 19 August 1968, Page 1

Kaikoura Men See Lifeboat

Five representatives of Kaikoura organisations were yesterday shown the workings of the Sumner Lifeboat Institution, and were taken for an hour’s run in the institution’s lifeboat Rescue 11.

It has been proposed that a lifeboat be based at Kaikoura, and that the Rescue H might be sold to a Kaikoura lifeboat organisation when the Sumner institution obtains a replacement. An appeal for $15,000 to replace the Rescue II will start in Christchurch next week.

The Kaikoura representatives had been very impressed with the organisation at Sumner, said the secretary of the Sumner Lifeboat Institution (Mr W. J. Baguley) yesterday. Mr B. Browne represented the. Lions Club,

and Mr J. Craig the boating club, and fishermen were also represented. The basic problem in the establishment of a lifeboat at Kaikoura was likely to be finance, Mr Baguley said. In addition to the cost of the boat, money would have to be found for a shed, slipway, radio equipment, and other items.

The price of the Rescue II would be set after an assessment by a shipping assessor, he said.

Inquiries into the possibility of establishing a lifeboat at Kaikoura began when the Sumner institution wrote to the Kaikoura County Council. Messrs Baguley and I. Quilter will go to Kaikoura tomorrow evening to talk to the Lions Club on the lifeboat.

The Sumner Lifeboat Institution has an option on a 15-year-old lifeboat at present owned by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Britain. The vessel, which would be sold with two new diesel engines installed, would cost $15,000. A similar vessel would cost $BO,OOO new, Mr Baguley said. The Christchurch Junior Chamber would start an appeal for funds for the boat on August 26. Householders would be sent cards with spaces for 10 stamps, and would be asked to buy a stamp a week, at 10c each, from their grocer, thus giving $1 over 10 weeks. Persons could send money direct For $1 they could be-

come members of the Sumner Lifeboat League for a year. The Sumner Lifeboat Institution was founded in 1898, and since then it has assisted more than 1000 persons to safety. The lifeboat’s crew are all volunteers, and there are 15 active crew

■ members and three basei crew. The appeal, which will ■ start next week, will be the , institution’s first major i appeal since 1929, when it ■ raised $3OOO to help buy the i Rescue 11, the present lifeboat. The Rescue II cost $6OOO.