ILL=FATED LAUNCH

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

ILL=FATED LAUNCH

LOST WITH THREE MEN INQUIRY INTO TRAGEDY. LAST VOYAGE OB’ ADVANCE. Napier, Oct. 4. The fate of the launch Advance, which sailed from Napier for Wanganui on July 5, 1932, and has not been heard of since, was recalled to-day, when an in*quiry was held by Mr. A. M. Mowlem, S.M., into the death of the crew, who are presumed to have been drowned. The crew consisted of Messrs. George Howell, single, Napier; Albert Cyril Cheesman, married, Wanganui; and Robert Tembo, single, Gonville, Senior-Ser-geant Pender conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police, while Mr. W. Nash appeared on behalf of the relatives of Mr. Howell and Mr. W- J. Treadwell, Wanganui, was present on behalf of the owner of the launch, Mr. Francis Freemen, company manager, Wanganui. Mr. Freeman said he purchased the launch Advance in 1931 at Wanganui. He had it converted from steam to oil. It was subsequently taken to Napier by Albert Cheesman. Cheesman leased the launch from witness, while he was fishing at Napier, and on the expiry of th? lease he decided to bring it back to Wanganui. Cheesman was in Wanganui on July 4, and witness wired to Dr. Kidson, Government meteorologist, asking about the weather. Upon receiving a favourable reply Cheesman decided to leave Napier for Wanganui with the launch on the following day. Witness drove him to Napier and, after an examination of the launch, put 860 gallons bf petrol on board.

LEAKING FROM STERN GLAND.

On making a further examination witness found the launch leaking from the stem gland. This caused him to ask Howell why he had not tightened it up. He replied that he did not know how to do so. Witness found the engine to be in perfect order, At one time the engine was slightly loose in its bed and Cheesman, at instructions given by witness, tightened it up. Witness was present on the wharf at Napier when the launch left for Wanganui. The engine was working perfectly. Witness said- he expected the Advance to arrive at Wanganui three days later. When it failed to arrive he reported the matter to the Customs Department and communicated with the Marine Department, giving authority for a search to be made by aeroplane. When the Advance left Wanganui for Napier it was equipped with six life-belts and two lifebuoys. It was a wooden vessel of 10 tons and built of kauri. George Clapham, Wanganui, said he was a member of the crew when the Advance sailed from Wanganui for Napier about 18 months ago. When they arrived in Napier the launch was in good condition, the only defect being in a petrol pipe. Some six months later he was approached by Freeman, who asked him if he would take charge of the launch and take it back to Wanganui. Upon his arrival at Waikokopu, where the launch then was, witness, as a result of an inspection, formed the opinion that the launch was not- seaworthy. It appeared to be leaking through the stem gland.

“TROUBLE WITH ENGINE.”

Witness said he. asked Freeman if he would be prepared to go out to sea with him that night and take the launch to Napier, but Freeman declined, saying he was a bad sailor, Witness said he would not take the launch to sea jn the condition it then was in. About a week later the launch left Napier and had not been heard of since. Henry Berg, fisherman,. Wanganui, said he was in charge of the Advance when it left Wanganui for Napier. They had a good run in fine weather. He remained on the launch for about three months, during which time he experienced continuous trouble with the engine, which was very loose in its bed. Some months afterwards he saw the launch at Napier, when it was leaking badly. Ronald Brock, Waikokopu, said he was asked if he would give a hand to take the launch to Wanganui. In reply, he said he would not make the trip as the launch was leaking too much for hip liking. He was satisfied it was not seaworthy. In his opinion, the engine was too strong for the launch, and it was possible vibration might have caused it to open up.

EVIDENCE OF BROTHER.

Roland Howell, brother of one of the deceased, said that prior to his brother leaving Waikokopu to catch the launch at Napier, witness asked him to be careful and told him not to accompany the launch to Wanganui until it had been on the slip at Napier for repairs. He considered the Advance was not seaworthy. Edmund David Bond, West Shore, said he made an inspection of the launch with a view to purchasing it soon after its arrival at Napier from Waikokopu. Howell and Cheesman told him they would not go to sea in the launch unless it was reconditioned. Witness was of opinion the launch met rough weather between Napier and Wellington, and, as a result of its unseaworthiness, foundered with all hands. Walter Charles Wood, waterside worker, Napier, gave evidence of seeing four or five inches of water above the engine room floorboards. He said he assisted to bale the water out, but when he examined the vessel again the following morning there was just as much water in it as on the previous occasion. Witness had had considerable experience at sea, and, in his opinion, the launch was old and not in a seaworthy condition. The weather was fine when the launch left Napier, but became very rough in the afternoon of the same day. HEAVY WEATHER IN STRAIT. Alexander McLachland, who was in charge of the Koutunui, leaving Lyttelton on July 5 for Waikokopu, gave evidence of experiencing heavy weather across the strait. He said he was of opinion that, if the launch was off the land between Cape Palliser and Castlepoint on the night in question, it would not have survived. Evidence was given by Andrew Gerhart Petersen, Customs officer at Port Ahuriri, of having gone to Porangahau on August 8 to examine some wreckage on the beach, which had been reported as being part of the Advance. He was satisfied this wreckage was not part of the Advance. About April, 1932, witness inspected the Advance for the purpose of ensuring that sufficient life-saving equipment was carried. This he found in good order. Detailed evidence of a thorough search being made by aeroplane from Hastings and Wellington was given by Thomas M. Courtney, Customs officer at Port Ahuriri. The proceedings was adjourned until next week.