MOTOR-BOAT'S CAPSIZE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 10

MOTOR-BOAT'S CAPSIZE

COOK STRAIT ' MISHAP. * REMARKS EIY CORONER "A HAZARDOUS VENTURE" [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON, Friday Remarking that, from the evidence, he had arrived at the conclusion that the attempt to cross Cook Strait in the outboard motor-boat Miss Wellington, - was a hazardous venture, considering the frailness of the craft, the coroner, Mr. E. Gilbertson, returned a verdict of death from exhaustion produced by protracted immersion in the sea, due to the boat capsizing, at an inquest concerning the death of Harold Clarke, one of the two occupants of the boat. 'The attempt to cross Cook Strait from Wellington to Pictotflm the 50 m.p.h. outboard motor-boat Miss Wellington was undertaken on Wednesday evening by Mr. F. W. Barrett-Wood, of Melbourne Royal Brighton Yacht Club, and Mr. Clarke, owner 'cf tho boat. When travelling at a speed of 35 miles an hour the boat was caught in a rip halfway between the Brothers and Cape Terawhiti and capsized. Cries for help were heard by those on board the Union Company's steamer Kiwitea, bound for Wellington. The ship stopped and the two men wero taken from tho water. During their long immersion Mr, Barrett-Wood had to support his companion for a considerable time and his conduct was described by the -coroner as being highly commendable.