DIVE INTO HARBOR

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1925, Page 1

DIVE INTO HARBOR

MOTOR-CAR, INCIDENT. AUCKLAND. Dec. 17

A Ford five-seafer motor-ear plunged over the vehicular wharf into twentylive l'eefc of water at Devonport just liefore seven o’clock this morning. Those in the ear fortunately escaped drowning, but only narrowly, as the ear had its hood up and only a flying leap) saved the passengers from being imprisoned under the water. The occupants were;—D. Colder and his three-year-old daughter, and D. Matson. The latter had the baby in his arms, and as the ear shivered on the brink he managed to grasp ail iron stanchion on the wharf and swing clear. When his weight was removed the car dropped like a stone, but Colder made a diagonal dive and entered the water a few feet clear of the ear. Before ilie accident Colder was proceeding down the wharf in order to board the vehicular steamer, the Mollyhawk. for Auckland. In front of him was a large milk van. This vehicle got on board all right, but when the Ford ear was about to proceed on board the Mollyliawk was several feet out. At this time the vessel was not rendv to receive vehicles. Some unauthorised person had left the landing apron down. Captain Webb, who was engaged m handling the mooring lines, saw the car’s plight and called out, to the driver, but it was too late. Tt appears that it is necessary when tving up tlu’ Mollyliawk for the night to moor her u few yards out from the floating stage, and that when the accident happened this morning the crew were “kicking her hack” on the mooring lines right into the floating stage. Therefore, the apron should not have been let down until the vessel had been brought right alongside. \limit !) a.m. the Auckland Harbour Board’s lirefloat went across to Devonport with a crane in low. Alter a diver had descended to attach the ropes to !ho ear this was hroiight up and placed on the wharf. The only damage sustained by the car consisted of a broken windscreen.