TRAWLER TOTAL WRECK

Southland Times, Issue 25358, 9 May 1944, Page 4

TRAWLER TOTAL WRECK

RESCUE OF CREW (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 9. The trawler Mary Ellen is a total wreck off Paremata as a result of springing a leak, filling and sinking on the bar while entering Porirua harbour at the weekend. The crew of three were rescued without difficulty by Mr Arthur Hunter in his fishing launch. The master and owner of the trawler, Mr R. A. Roderique, lost furniture and household effects which he had stored aboard pending securing a house in Wellington, to where, with his ship, he came two months ago from Westport. Heavy rain was falling and there was a fair sea running when the Mary Ellen, which had been fishing off Kapiti, made for Porirua harbour. She began to fill rapidly and soon sank on the bar. Mr J. T. McManaway in his trawler Silver Spray and Mr O. McManaway in the Teresa tried unsuccessfully in difficult conditions to tug the Mary Ellen off the bar. Sixty cases of fish aboard were jettisoned, and as they were washed up on the beach Paremata and Plimmerton residents had more fresh fish free of cost than has been the good fortune of most citizens in New Zealand for a long, time.

Tonight only the mast of the Mary Ellen was above water. Her particulars are: Length, 48ft; beam, lift; depth, sft sin; gross tonnage, 13; net, 9 tons 8 cwt; horsepower of engines, 40.