LAUNCH DISASTER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 13 January 1944, Page 4

LAUNCH DISASTER

SURVIVOR DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL SEARCH FOR VICTIMS CONTINUES DETAILS OF CAREERS Mr T. G. Taylor, of Wellington, the sole survivor of the launch Warrigal which sank in Cook Strait on Tuesday afternoon, was discharged from the Nelson Public Hospital yesterday afternoon, after having been admitted for treatment and observation. He returned to Wellington last night by the steamer Matangi. Of the wives of the three victims of the tragedy, Mrs Nisbet was staying at Yncyca Bay, Havelock, Mrs Haldane was holidaying in Pelorus Sound, and Mrs Sutherland was staying with friends in Napier. SEARCH BY AEROPLANES South Island-based aircraft of the R.N.Z.A.F. took off at dawn yesterday and for four hours searched the area where the tragedy occurred, but without success. Visibility was restricted to half a mile. The police are searching the coast in the vicinity of Cape Terawhiti lor wreckage or bodies but last night had found nothing. The searchers did not return to the city but stayed the night in the district and will continue searching this morning. The two yachts reported to have left Tory Channel on Tuesday morning for Wellington ahead of the ill-fated launch Warrigal had not arrived in port up till late last night. It is presumed that they found conditions too bad on Tuesday and returned to some sheltered bay in the Sounds. Though the wind had dropped there was still a considerable swell running in Cook Strait last night. CONNECTION WITH TAKAKA Mr E. W. R. (Bert) Haldane, one of the missing men, was born in Takaka and educated at Takaka District High School and Nelson College, where he was a pupil in 1917-18. He joined the staff of the Public Trust Office, at the sam ? time taking lectures at Victoria University College, graduating LL.B. in 1924. Later he and his brother. Mr M. Haldane, who is also a solicitor and who is at present secretary to Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt, formed a legal partnership. Mr E. W. R. Haldane afterwards went into practice on his own account at the Hutt. He married Miss Kathleen Roache, of Hastings. They have one son. CAREERS OF OTHER VICTIMS Robert lan Malcolm Sutherland, who was aged 38, was educated at New Plymouth High School and Victoria College. He played Rugby football for both his school and college, and after some years in law offices in Wellington, began practice on his own account. About five years ago he joined the late Mr A. B. Croker, who died about a year ago, in partnership. Apart from law, Mr Sutherland was keenly interested in aviation matters, and at the time of his death held the position of treasurer of the Royal New Zealand Aero Club. He also iserved for some time in the Naval Auxiliary Patrol Service. He married Miss L, P. Cornford, Napier, and there are two children, aged four and two years. Mr Sutherland had been doing an increasing amount of court work, and was highly regarded by his colleagues. Mr A. W. Nisbet had over three years’ active service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, during which time he held various administrative appointments, the last being that of adjutant to the 3rd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade when the division had the unenviable task of holding the peak of the Ypres salient in 1917 in the famous Polygonne Wood sector. Returning from the war, Mr Nisbet was one of the foundation members of the Marlborough Aero Club. On coming to Wellington, he formed the Hutt Valley Aero Club, later incorporated in the Wellington Aero Club, of which he became secretary in 1931. When he left that position, Mr Nisbet became secretary of the Wellington Manufacturers' Association, remaining there till he joined the Department of Labour about two and a half years ago as organiser of trade training schools throughout the Dominion. Mr Nisbet was also a former member of the Industrial Emergency Council. An enthusiastic yachtsman for many years, he was controller of the Hutt Valley Harbour Auxiliary E.P.S. He leaves a wife and adult family.