WRECK OF THE PROGRESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20863, 4 May 1931, Page 10

WRECK OF THE PROGRESS.

CARGO ON THE BEACH, ACTION TAKEN BY POLICE. [BY TELEGRAPH.- —rRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. The beach at Ohiro Bay is strewn with wreckage from the Holm Shipping Company's steamer Progress, which was wrecked on rocks half-a-mile south of llappy Valley yesterday with the loss of four lives. A large number of men, women and children who were picking up portable cargo from the scene of (he wreck had a rude shock this morning when, on their way back, they came face to face with a constable, who politely requested them to load the various articles they carried into a waiting lorry. It is reported that several men sampling (he contents of a cask also received a shock when a constable came up and stove it in.

NEED FOR LIFEBOAT. COOK STRAIT DANCERS. " The people of Island Bay arc sullen and sore over the senseless loss of life which has once again occurred at their door," said Mr. C. F. Lethaby. president of the Island Bay Ratepayers' Association. in the course of an interview regarding the wreck of the steamer Progress at < Hiiro May, Wellington. Mr. Lethaby said that deputations comprising the Island Bay Ratepayers' Association, the Cook Strait Fishermen's Association. the Island Bay Life-sav'ng and Surf Club, and the Royal Humane Society had waited upon the Minister of Marine after the fatality which had occurred in October last year, and again after the disaster which had taken place in February last, with a request that a lifeboat should bo provided for Island Bay at a cost of £15.000, which would be able not only to serve Island Bay but the whole of Cook S( rail.

In a little over six months. Mr. Lethaby pointed out, 10 lives had been lost at Island Bay within swimming distance of the shore. The Government estimated the valuo of each adult at £2OOO, and this meant that the Dominion had lost £20,000, more than up-to-date lifeboat equipment would have cost. Wlitli a modern lifeboat, capable of being transported quickly on a high-powered motor-lorry to any part of the <'oast, stranded vessels in foul ground could ho saved, where larger vessels would have no chance of affording relief. The fishermen of Island Bav and the members of the life-saving and surf club, Mr. Lethaby added, had volunteered to undergo any form of training which the Marine Department or the Harbour Board might lay down. The, people of Island Bay were unanimously' of opinion that all the lives lost on Friday could have been saved had a lifeboat been on hand. A lifeboat could even have taken out an extra anchor, and thus averted the tragedy.