SEARCH FAILS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22518, 8 September 1936, Page 8

SEARCH FAILS

MISSING FISHERMEN LOSS OIF TARANAKI LAUNCH PARTIES PATROL COAST " HOPES DIMINISHING V ("BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] / KAWHIA, Monday Mystery surrounds the disappearance of Mr. Harold Sheldon Robinson, aged 21, and Mr. George Gordon Redfcrn aged 24, the two fishermen who were' the crew of the New Plymouth launch Campbell, which was found wrecked on

the beach south of Point Albatross Kawhia, yesterday morning. A search by 40 people to-day failed to reveal any trace of the missing men v and it is feared they have been drowned.

The launch put out from Xew Plymo ut n last Tuesday night, and was expected to return on Thursday. She was seen sheltering behind Albatross Point on Wednesday, but was not seen again until her damaged hull was found yesterday morning, high and dry in a sandy core three miles south of the point.

A heavy gale has been experienced along the coast during the past four days, and, although the wind moderated to half its former velocity today, the breakers were terrific. A preliminary search was carried out yes. terday by settlers. Constable Horne, of Kawhia, arrived last evening, and this morning a party of 10, including Constable Canning, Mr. H. J. McKain, the owner of the launch, and Mr. C. A. Robinson, a brother of one of the missing men, arrived from New Ply. mouth. With 40 people nesting them, they extended the search over 20 miles of beach, and, although pieces of wreckage were picked up within two miles of tlia hull, no evidence throwing any light on the fate of the missing ni- n was found ? Difficulties of Access The Campbell went ashore in a most inaccessible and isolated spot and there is no habitation in sight of it. To reach the locality from Kawhia, Constable Home took a launch across the harbour to Maika Point. He then had' a 10-mile ;ride to Taharoa, and another two-mile ride to the scene of the wreck. The New Plymouth party drove up the Te Waitere Valley road to the terminus. They spent last night in a wool shed. This morning they had a long journey to the scene of the wreck. The owner of the vessel, Mr. H. J. McKain, said apparently the Campbell had taken shelter behind Al- ' batross Point on Wednesday, when .she was last seen afloat, and on the wind changing; her crew had put to sea, evidently with the intention of returning to New Plymouth. What hap. pened afterwards no one could say. "It Avas possible," said Mr. McKain, "that on Saturday night they mis* took the beach for, the open sea in the darkness and became involved in the breakers." Another suggestion was that the engine gave trouble and the launch was caught in the breakers hefore the crew could recover her position. .

■ >■ Attempt to Use Sstt ' <: It was evident that an attempt had been made to hoist the sail, pieces of the mas.t and sail being found on the launch. Empty oil drums found on the beach had the appearance of having been used as an improvised raft. The Campbell is a total loss. Tha hull had withstood the? buffeting it had received to a remarkable degrefe and the engine and propeller were in* tact. The engine was of 40 horsepower. The vessel was built by Mr. Ernest Lane, of Picton, and in 1914 she was engaged in carrying fish between Picton and Wellington. The wreck was sold this afternoon to Mr. Kiwi Retemai, the Taharoa Lake ferryman. Mr. McKain, who recently acquired full ownership of the launch, is a heavy loser. The search party is camping in the Taharoa schoolhouse this evening and will resume the. search to-morrow.