KETCH REFLOATED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22161, 15 July 1935, Page 10

KETCH REFLOATED

SALVAGE OF TE HAtfGI USE OF BULLOCK TEAM DEPARTURE FOR ONEHUNGA [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] KAITAIA, Sunday A fine salvage feat was performed to-day, when the ketch Te Hangi, which was driven ashore at Ahipara, on the south end of the Ninety Mile Beach on June 25, while on her maiden voyage from Hokianga, was relaunched. She afterwards sailed for Onehuuga. After being left high and dry on the beach, the vessel was repaired, and several scams were caulked by the crew, Messrs. J. Wrav and D. Wellington, of Auckland, and Mr. S. Ford, boatbuilder, of Elierslie. At noon today, at dead low tide, the Te Hangi was hauled down the beach by a team of bullocks, skids being used on the first stages of the journey. Bags of sand were then taken on board as ballast, the rising tide gradually refloating the ketch. There was a fairly heavy swell running, but the wind was off-shore. When the bont was afloat, a lady passenger, Mrs. N. McDonald, of Kaitaia, was taken on board by a dinghy. While the dinghy was being rowed ashore to pick up Mrs. McDonald, it capsized, but no damage was done. At 5.30 the Te Hangi cleared Ree'o Point, near Ahipara, with a favourable northerly wind, bound for Onehunga. Those on board were Messrs Wray, Wellington and Ford, and Mrs. McDonald.