MOTOR LAUNCH ADRIFT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10846, 11 March 1921, Page 4

MOTOR LAUNCH ADRIFT

FAMILY PARTY’S TRYING EXPERIENCE. TWO DAYS WITHOUT FOOD. Flit PRW®* ASSOCIATIONWAIROA, March 10. Mr Neville, of Portland Island, was nniertunat-e enough to lose his motorlaunch last Tuesday. Last week-end he started from Wairoa, accompanied by three of his children. After getting through the river entrance, and. when approaching his destination, tho engine broke down. He was then left to the mercy of the wind. He put up a small sail, but the direction of the -wind did not allow him to make the island, so he resolved to try to return to Wairoa. This he was also unable to do, and was carried towards Napier. He then attempted to land on the beach, hut a southerly sprung up and the little craft was again driven north, past the Wairoa entrance, and up towards Waikokopu. The launch had now teen floating up and down the coast for two day® and nights, and the food and water ware exhausted. Neville determined to beach the craft, whatever the -risk might he. With this object in view he steered towards the rocks between Waikokopu. and Euriti. His eldest girl, as the launch approached the shore, jumped overboard, and. swam through the breakers. The other two children and Neville stuck to the launch. As the boat got into the breakers it began to bump against the rocks, and finally .on the crest of a huge wave it was thrown ashore. Tho human freight was thrown into the water. The children, with Mr help, swam ashore. They were much buffeted and bruised, but safe. The launch is now a total wreck, being smashed to matchwood.