NEW RIVER HEADS

Southland Times, Issue 20770, 10 May 1929, Page 7

NEW RIVER HEADS

A DANGEROUS BAR. LOSS OF LAUNCH EARLY DAWN. Following Is the report of the harbourmaster (Mr W. N. Clare) on the mishap to the launch Early Dawn, which was wrecked at New River Heads on Anzac Day. The report was handed to the Press by the Mayor (Mr J. D. Campbell). It states: “The loss of the launch Is made all the more regrettable when it is realized that the whole thing could have been avoided by a ring over the telephone on the preceding evening, and it serves to show just what can happen through one being kept in the dark regarding things pertaining to the working of a bar harbour,” states the harbourmaster. “I might mention that on Anzac morning' I anticipated an early departure for the fishing grounds by the pleasure launches, so was on the look-out at 5.30, in order to block them because the bar was then unworkable and it continued so until high water, 1.30 p.m., although the weather conditions were perfect. At 1.45 p.m., being convinced that the launches which had been prevented from going to sea (seven in. number) were making homewards, and also satisfying myself that the bar by this time would be workable for a fair sized launch, and seeing nothing to the westward, I lowered (he signals without the faintest idea that there was a launch somewhere outside in the haze encumbered by a disabled launch in tow, waiting to enter. My surprise half an hour later, when seeing the launch Monowai steam past the station dwelling is betI ter imagined than described. “Now, sir, the point I wish to stress is that the launch Monowai left Invercargill on Wednesday evening, passing here in the moonlight without my knowing anything about such movement. Had her owners rung me before they left Invercargill advising me of their intended programme, the launch Early Dawn would no doubt have still been afloat, for the danger signals would have remained flying until dark, for the bar was certainly dangerous for towing purposes (no matter what size the craft may have been) during all day of April 25. During the previous week, the same launch went outide on a Saturday afternoon and thinking that she had gone for a short fish- I ing excursion. I kept the usual watch for her return the same evening and as she made no appearance by 9 p.m. I became extremely anxious concerning her nonappearance, and by such time it was too late to get into communication with anyone. She arrived into port the following afternoon and I heard later that she had been to Riverton as intended. “If launch owners will not assist me by keeping me posted with their intentions such as leaving or making port, their intended destinations and proposed return, there is every likelihood of their receiving a wrong signal and a consequent bungling will ensue. The practice of working the bar by night must be strongly condemned. “In conclusion, I must mention that I do not for a moment think that the matter of not letting me know was anything but just want of thought on the part of the Monowai’s crew. Launches in Invercargill are continually changing hands so it makes it difficult to keep the run of the various skippers, and for that reason I shall be all the more grateful for the publication of this appeal. To those launch owners whom one may term as the ‘old hands,’ I extend my sincerest thanks for the wav in which they have always helped me to their utmost to guard against accidents and in many ways assisted me in my duties.”