TRAWLER SPRINGS LEAK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19511, 9 June 1933, Page 6

TRAWLER SPRINGS LEAK

ABANDONED OFF WAIPIRO BAY. CREW PICKED UP BY LAUNCH. By Telegraph—Press Association GISBORNE. June 8. At three o’clock, Sandford’s steam trawler Serfib sprang a leak when three miles off Waipiro Bay. Captain Flett was at the wheel when the mate (Mr Black) reported that water was coming into the engine room very fast. When, in half an hour, the vessel was in such a bad way, the captain and crew of nine decided to leave in a dinghy. Owing to a heavy swell the dinghy was damaged in launching. Whilst two men kept up bailing, four rowed in the direction of the open bay, where lights were seen. Brennan’s launch Huia was at anchor there, and took all aboard, and landed them at Tokomaru Bay at nine o’clock. The Serfib left Hicks Bay this morning, intending to trawl off Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay. To-night there was a heavy southeast roll and a heavy south-west wind.

The trawler had one hundred baskets of fish aboard, and intended to return to Auckland on Sunday night. The Serfib was still afloat when last seen, but was drifting towards East Cape, and appeared to be doomed.