CHATHAM ISLANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 65

CHATHAM ISLANDS.

A PERILOUS ADVENTURE. CHRISTCHURCH, October 13. Having lost a valuable motor-launch and fishing plant and narrowly escaped with his lite in a thrilling experience at Chatham Islands, Mr J. Odey, a well-known Oamaru fisherman, returned to Lyttelton by the Himitangi this morning, he is on his way south to procure another launch and outfit, and will return to the Chatham Islands later on to try his luck once more. Mr Odey gave a reporter an account, of his exciting experiences. He stated that in company with Mr Robert Smiley, another Oamaru fisherman, and Bert Clough, a Pitt Islander, he was engaged in fishing for the Chatham Island Fisheries Company. The launch measured 30ft in length and Bft beam, and was fitted with a 5 h.p. engine, and had only been taken down to the islands by Mr Odey on the 24th of August. They left Owenga on a fishing cruise around the rooky coast of Pitt Island, and all went well until Monday, September 25, when they were caught in a strong northerly gale, which raised _ a terrific sea in the strait separating Pitt Island from the main island* and they were unable to get back to Owenga. They ran the launch round to the lee side of Pitt Island, and went for . shelter into Goodman's Harbour, which, was supposed to be entirely safe in any weather. On the Wednesday night it blew a hard southerly gale, and raised a dangerous sea, which prevented the party from getting their launch out through the narrow entrance to' the harbour. On the Saturday the wind blew with terrific force, the gale being the worst that had been known at ' the Chatham Islands for many years. The position of the fishermen was now an exceedingly dangerous one. The. little harbour was barely two acres in extent, and was completely landlocked. There was no safe landing place, high cliffs and jagged rocks extending all round. The gale drove tremendous seas in through the tiny entrance, and the water was literally piled up in the little cove until it was fully 30ft above the ordinary high-water mark. The launch dragged her moorings, and was driven ashore, being completely smashed to pieces on the jaigged bases of the cliffs. Finding it impossible to save the launch, the men took to their 29ft whale boat, and attempted a landing on the most favourable spot they could find. There was nothing for it but to run into the low rocks. Tne three men managed to scramble ashore safely, but the whale boat was pounded to piece's on the rooks-. Mr Odey and his mates made their way to a settler's house, wheu'e they were well oared for and hospitably treated. They spent their time in sheepshearing and pig hunting until the Himitangi called at Pitt Island on October 10. Twenty-throe days pfter they had left Owenga, and took them off. Mr Odey estimatees the loss of the launch, the whale boat, and the fishing gear at over £250. but he is regarding the matter philosophically, and says he is thankful to have escaped with his life. The fishing industry at the Chatham Islands has been rather quiet 'during the past month. According to Mr Zonrab, manager of the Chatham Island Fisheries Company, who returned _ to Lyttelton by the Himitangi this morning, bad weather, heavy gales, and high seas had prevented the launches from going out much, and there -bad been only four or five days' fishing during the three weeks preceding the arrival of tho Himitangi. While the steamer was at the ' island® the weather was much more settled and suitable for fishing. The Himitanpri brought about GSO eases of fish, nearly all blue cod, from (lie islands, 600 cases being from Mr J. M'Lean's station at Kaingaroa, and the balance from the Chatham Islands Fisheries Company's station at Owenga. Regarding attempts made by his company to place consignments of \Am Ciftd on the market here, Mir Zohrab said that the company had hot received

as much encouragement as they were entitled .to expect. The company was prepared- to meet the wishes of the dealers and: of the public of Christcbureh. It was strange, he added, that while large quantities of smoked blue cod are sent to Melbourne and Sydney, and even as far afield as Singapore and Manila, there was only a j small market for it in New Zealand. j