LAUNCH WRECKED

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1929, Page 5

LAUNCH WRECKED

CREW REACH SHORE

AN ARDUOUS TIME

(Per Press Association.)

THAMES, May 13.

The launch Ngaru, with seven men aboard, is missing at Coromandel. All the men are single with the exception of Captain Grogan, who was master of a scow that went ashore. This morning a search was made at the islands outside Coromandel Harbour, without result. An Auckland message says that Waiheke Island was searched for wreckage, but with no result. It appears from the owner, Mrs. Pickering, that the launch was taken without the owner’s knowledge. It recently was purchased in Auckland from Captain Hammond and was named the Ngaru. A report from Colville states that two launches are sheltering there, but it is unknown if the Ngaru is one of them. „ i

WRECK REPORTED.

AUCKLAND, May 14.

The Coromandel launch was wrecked off Whangaparaoa Peninsula, thirty miles north of Auckland. The crew of seven are all safe. FURTHER PARTICULARS AUCKLAND, May 14. The launch Ngaru was washed ashore at Shakepeare’s Bay, Whangaparaoa Peninsula at two o’clock this morning. The men reached Shakepeare’s homestead at 7 o’clock greatly exhausted. They had no food nor water since Sunday. The first news was wirelessed to Auckland from the Tiritiri lighthouse. '

A NARROW ESCAPE.

AUCKLAND, May 14.

After 36 hours’ tossing in one of the worst seas experienced by local craft in recent years, the seven passengers of the launch Ngaru, wrecked at Whangaparaoa got ashore safely at two o’clock this morning, and walked two and a half miles to Shakespeare’s farm. They were in a famished condition, having only sufficient food for one meal on leaving Coromandel on Sunday for a short cruise. They were over taken by a fierce gale. The engine broke down and they drifted up and down the coast on Sunday and Monday in a perilous plight. Nearing Whangaparaoa, one anchor was gone, with breakers ahead. The second anchor parted and the case for all hands looked hopeless, but the launch grounded on the point of the Peninsula, and all hands scrambled ashore safely.

OWNER’S STATEMENT.

AUCKLAND, May 14.

The “Star’s” special reporter at Coromandel states that the owner of the Ngaru declares the launch was taken on the crusie without authority. He bought her recently, second hand, foi* fishing purposes, and told Magee, the mechanic, to tune her up. Nothing was said about going for a spin. He valued the launch at £3OO, and there was wireless worth £4O aboard, but it did not belong to the owner. No food was taken on the trip, but plenty of benzine and oil were aboard. The seven men had been given up for lost, and there was great rejoicing when news of their safety reached Coromandel.