NEARLY WRECKED TWICE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1076, 13 September 1930, Page 1

NEARLY WRECKED TWICE

LAUNCH VIRGINIA HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS SHORTAGE OF FOOD The members of the crew of the launch Virginia, which was found when overdue by a seaplane on Wednesday, and which returned to Auckland on Thursday afternoon, had some very trying experiences on their trip. They consider themselves lucky to have got back alive. “If it hadn’t been for the seaplane, l don’t know where we would be,” said Mr. J. V. White this morning. “We had been living on fish for two days. When we arrived hack in Auckland we had no supplies except a small quantity of pepper. “Setting out with a badly-fitted boat for Simpson’s Rook, off the Great Barrier, on Tuesday, September 2, we made good time to the Rangitoto beacon, after which we struck seaweed. This fouled the propeller, and we decided to make for Kawau, which we reached seven hours later. Next day I dived under and cleared the propeller. Although the gearbox • the engine was not working well, we headed for Omaha, and thence for Simpson’s Rock, in a light southwesterly breeze. We dropped anchor for hapuka-fishing.

“The weather grew worse, and fishing became impossible. Three of us failed to pull up the anchor against [the breeze, and we found we wep6 being driven on to Simpson’sTtock, with the anchor dragging and the engine useless. “About five yards from the rock, tin engine started by a miracle. We drove away, heading for Port Fitzroy on the Great Barrier. Our food was runnning low'. At Port Fitzroy we took on fresh supplies. “Here the engine failed again, and we were nearly driven ashore during the night. The launch would probably have been wrecked if we bad not been lucky enough to get the engine going. As the weather was unfavourable for a return to AucKland, and as we were unfortunate with our fishing, we inquired as to where we could find a sheltered fishing ground. A bay behind the Barrier was recommended.

“The breeze was still very strong, and we had to shelter most of the time. It was an enormous relief when w r e saw the seaplane land in the bay near us. We were pretty well exhausted by our experiences and the lack of food.”