Launch Fire Causes Excitement At Kawau

Northern Advocate, 4 January 1939, Page 5

Launch Fire Causes Excitement At Kawau

[Special to “Northern Advocate”] AUCKLAND. This Day.

. Wild excitement x’eigned in Mansion House Bay, Kawau Island, about 1.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, when one of the largest and most luxurious cruising launches in the harbour, the Connie V, owned by Mr E. Vallantyne, of Hamilton, caught fire as it was lying alongside the wharf. Mr Vallantyne was preparing to take a party for a cruise, and he, with a few friends, was filling the petrol tank preparatory to leaving the moorings. Suddenly there was an explosion, the cause of which is not known, and fire broke out in the engine room. The fire extinguisher on the launch was immediately procured, and those on board rushed forward to try to quell the blaze.

In the confusion, Mr Vallantyne suffered slight burns to his hands and arms.

Extinguishing efforts proved of no avail, and the fire was getting a strong hold.

By this time, however, the plight of the launch was seen by the crews of many other, launches and yachts in the harbour. The Launch Scuttled. Despite the efforts of the many helpers, the flames continued to belch from the engine-room, and were seen to be gaining on the fittings of the lower cabin.

Realising that the flames were not being checked, Mr Vallantyne, as a last resort, decided to scuttle his boat to prevent complete destruction. Seizing an axe, he hacked a hole in the hull, allowing the water to pour into the inferno that was consuming the luxurious interior of his stately craft.

As the drenching stream gradually rose higher in the hull, so the began to die down.

Clouds of steam rose out of the hatchways, as the red-hot metal fittings and the blazing woodwork were douched.

Vital Parts Undamaged.

Later in the day, the Connie V was brought up on the Mansion House beach, where an examination revealed that although much of the woodwork and fittings had been charred, no damage ha'd been done to the vital parts. The engine-room was most damaged, but even that was not seriously affected.

Temporary repairs are now being carried out prior to the launch being brought to Auckland for complete overhaul.