LAUNCH MISSING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22740, 28 May 1937, Page 10

LAUNCH MISSING

TWO MEN ON BOARD TARANAKI FISHERMEN SEARCH BY AEROPLANE RECENT STORMY WEATHER [fltOM OUR OWN (OiIRESPONDENTj KAWHIA. Thursday Fears are entertained for the safety of two men in the fishing boat Miss Viking, which left Waitara last Saturday for the Kawhia fishing-grounds and has not been seen since, ihe boat is owned by Mr. H. J. McKain, of New Plymouth, and was in the charge of .Air. Thomas Daniels, aged 30. The name of the other member of the crew has not yet been ascertained. The Miss Viking was expected to return to Waitara not later than Tuesday, and when she did not make an appearance Mr. McKain instituted inquiries. No reports of her having bono seen on the fishing grounds could be obtained and Mr. McKain organised a search by air. To-day lie flew up the coast as far as Albatross Point with one of two aeroplanes sent out to search the coast. Craft Not Seen

No vessel answering the description of the missing boat was seen and so Mr. McKain dropped a message to one of the Kawhia fishing boats, Galileo, asking the owners, Messrs. C. and A. Robertson, to keep a. look-out on their way back to Kawhia. The Galileo returned to harbour later in the day and it was reported that a search of some hours had failed to reveal any trace of the launch.

Severe weather was experienced on the fishing grounds at the beginning of the week, but none of the boats which have returned to harbour experienced any difficulties. The weather since then has been reasonably calm and the sea smooth. It is not unusual for fishing craft to remain at sea for several days, and the Miss V iking has many times returned to port in very rough weather. She is a well-found vessel and practically new. Coastal, Vessel Warned

If the vessel has not returned to port by to-morrow morning an extensive search will be started. The master of the motor-vessel Hauturu, which is to sail from Onehunga for New Plymouth, was communicated with by wireless and asked to keep a look-out for the launch 011 the voyage down the coast.

Mr. McKain owned the launch Campbell, which last year was wrecked near Kawhia. Her crew, Messrs. H. S. Robinson and G. Redfern, were never seen again.