PLUNGED INTO SEA

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12323, 18 December 1925, Page 8

PLUNGED INTO SEA

CAR GOES OVER WHARF PASSENGERS HAVE NARROW ESCAPE." * (By, Telegraph.—Special to “Times.”) > AUCKLAND, December 17. A Ford iive-seater motor-car plunged over the vehicular wharf into 25ft of water at Devonport just before 7 o’clock this morning. Those in the car fortunately escaped drowning, narrowly, as the car had its hood up, an* only a flying leap saved them being imprisoned under the water. The occupants were D. Calder and his three-year-old daughter and D. Matson. The latter had a baby in his arms, and as the car shivered on the brink he managed to grasp an iron stanchion on the wharf and swing clear. When his weight was removed the car dropped like a stone, but Calder made a diagonal dive and entered the water a few feet clear the car.

Before the accident Calder was proceeding down the wharf in order to board the vehicular steamer Mollyhawk, for Auckland. In front of. him was a, large milk-van. This vehicle got on board all right. When the Ford car was about to proceed on board the Mollyhawk was several feet out at this time. The vessel was not ready to revehicles for the first trip across, and it is stated, through some unauthorised person leaving the landing apron down the car, after being suspended for a few seconds, plunged into the sea, ,

Captain Webb, who was engaged in handling the mooring lines, saw the car’s plight, and called out to the driver, but it was too late.

It appears that it is necessary when tying up the Mollyhawk for the night to moor her a few yards out from the floating stage, and that when the accident happened this morning the crew were “kicking her back” on the mooring lines right into the floating stage therefore the apron should not have been let down until the vessel had been brought right alongside. About 9 o’clock the Auckland Harbour Board’s fire-float went across to Devonport, with a cranq in tow. , After a diver had descended to attach ropes to the car this was brought up and placed on the whart. The only damage done to the car consisted of a broken wind-screen.