CLOSE CALLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10886, 29 September 1913, Page 7

CLOSE CALLS.

SEfcISATICM AT SUMNER. HI'SY DAY Fpli LIHSIJOAT (HEW. BOATS GO OUT THREE TIMES. Shortly after noon yesterday an alarm was given in Sumner that a boat containinp; two boys was in difficulties and in danger of drifting out to sea from Taylor's Mistake, the occupants being unablo to pull inslioro owing to the strong wind and heavy sea. Hastening over tho hills to Sumner, the brother of ono of those in tho drifting boat sought tho assistance of tho lifeboat crew. The Rescue, with Second-officer A. Wood in charge and a, crew consisting of Messrs K. Hibell, _G. Hibell, A. Kerr and C. Denhaiu, with Messrs Newman, Woodham, Preston and Daveo as volunteers, put out from tho pier, while No. 2 lifeboat, tho Aid, in charge of Acting-pilot J. Mines, with three of tho lifeboat crow and two volunteers, put out from tho boat harbour. Both boats arrived round Whitewash Head simultaneously, when it was found that tho lads had regained land, rolling from the rocks to aiinoirace their safety. Tho boys, it is understood, belonged to n party camping at Taylor's Mistako in one of tho cave dwellings, their names being White (2), Stnngfellow and Carter. , Both lifeboats returned to boat harbour, and subsequently the lifoboat crew, under Acting-pilot Bines, took tho Rescue back to its shed on tho pier. There was a hoary south-east roll and ebb tido, and tho performance of a difficult task by tho crew was well worthy of praise, especially in view of tho fact that just bo/oro this alarm was raised the crew had completed an arduous two hours' practice. Although most of tho men worn at home when the horn sounded, both boats were out at sea within a few minutes of the alarm:

:About throo o'clock in the afternoon, Acting-pilot Hinos and Mr j. Carter, ono of the crow, noticed a boat drifting down the Estuary from towards Rodcliff a. They put out and secured the boat, and soon had it safely moored. Shortly afterwards a motor-launch, named the Aorangi; which had arrived from New Brighton with a party of five gontlomen and three ladies, approached the pier. A few, minutes later the little vessel started out again, but when a short distance away the engine refused to work and the Aorangi started to drift towards tho sand spit on the New Brighton side. There was a very strong ebb, tide and a heavy sea was running. Messrs Hinos arid Carter manned the pilot dinghy, took on board a length of rope and a 501b anchor, and started out to overtake tho, drifting launch. After strenuous oxer-' tions, they got fairly near thb little vessel, and threw out the anchor. A rope was thrown aboard tho launch, and by the time it was secured tho vessel had drifted .almost on to the rocks at the beacon. : Pulling the dinghy alongside by' means of the rope, the two Sumner lifeboatmen took on board the three women, and after a hard pull landed thein on the pier. A second journey was undertaken, and three men wore transferred to.the pier. Meanwhile the tjvo men left 011 the launch succeeded in restarting tho engine. Tho launch returned to tho pier and took theiparty back to New Brighton.

The lifeboat cray ,aro handicapped by the comparative i of the horn at present in use to give an alarm loud cuough to bo heard by those not . near by, especially when a strong wind is blowing off shoro. The discharge of loud-sounding detonators is in effective use in most places where a lifeboat crew is stationed, and it is contended than an up-to-date system, should be devised at Sumner. <.