LAUNCH CATCHES FIRE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 21 February 1935, Page 6

LAUNCH CATCHES FIRE

OCCUPANTS’ LUCKY ESCAPE

AN] ALARMING EXPERIENCE.

TAUPO; Feb. 19. Fire, caused by g. backfire from the engine, completely destroyed the hire launch Moana last night. Those on board were able to reach shallow water shortly before the boat sank. The Moana, which was owned by Mr L. Newdiek, was taking Mr. and Mrs. John Russell, of Dannevirke, from the houseboat at Kawakawa Bay to the fishing grounds at the mouth of the Waihaha stream on the western shore of Lake Taupo. Shortly before S p.xn., when the launch was about half-a-mile from the stream, the engine hack-fired and agnited the engine-room. The engineer, a Maori gained Sam Tupara, rushed to the cockpit for the fire extinguisher and played it on the flames, but the petrol tank had caught alight and blazed furiously. A box of sand was also thrown on the flames, but without effect.

Fortunately, a light breeze was carrying the blazing craft towards the shore, and by the time, the cockpit was threatened by the flames the occupants were able to wade to some rocks at the foot of a sheer cliff. The fire spread rapidly ard a few minutes after the launch had been abandoned it was burnt to the water’s edge and broke in half. In spite of the brilliant glare, nobody noticed the fire, and the party spent an uncomfortable night marooned on the rocks

Not until early this morning was their plight noticed by the launch Sun-, beam, which at once came to their rescue. The party were taken to the houseboat, .and, later in the day they arrived in Taupo. suffering no ill-ef-fects from their alarming experience. The Moana was used as a tender to Mr. Newdick’s houseboat at Katvnkawn. Bay. It was not insured, and Mr Newdiek estimates its value at about £209.