LAUNCH MISSING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 244, 27 July 1937, Page 6

LAUNCH MISSING

FIVE MEN ON BOARD. FEARS FOR THEIR SAFETY. SUPPOSED ENGINE TROUBLE. (Pei’ Press Association.) AUCKLAND, July 26. Fears are entertained for the safety of five men who left Kennedy’s Bay, Coromandel Peninsula, on Friday night in the 32ft launch Ngaru for Auckland, and who have not been heard of since Saturday afternoon,-when it is believed that the launch was sighted off Hook’s Point, Waiheke Island. The owners of the launch are Harold, Reginald, and Wilson Bright, aged 22, 20, and 16 respectively, who are engaged in farming at Kennedy’s Bay. They were accompanied by’Jack Bell, aged 18, who is employed on his father’s farm at Kennedy’s Bay, and Peter Noyer, aged 57, an employee on the same farm. The party was coming to Auckland to see the Springboks in action against Auckland. Leaving Kennedy’s Bay at 9 p.m. on Friday, the party was seen 12 hours later at Colville, where the launcfi called to take on provisions for the trip and lubricating oil. Mr T. P. Pickering, a step-father of the Bright brothers, said by telephone from Kennedy’s Bay to-night that the Ngaru’s engine had only recently been installed, and that the water pump had not been working too well. “The boys told people at Colville that they were having trouble with the new engine,” Mr Pickering said, “but they hoped to reach Auckland in time for the match. They said they intended to have tlie water pump fixed at Auckland, and they left Colville on Saturday morning with the sails set.” The next report, which was not definite, was that the Ngarji was off Hook’s Point, Waiheke Island, about 3 p.m. on Saturday, since when nothing has been seen or heard of it. The Waiheke Island correspondent of the* “New Zealand Herald” said tonight that the entire island had been communicated with to ascertain whether any sign of the launch had been seen by residents. The report stated that the seas were rough. The Admiralty survey ship Endeavour has been communicated with from Waiheke Island, hut to-night it had seen no sign of the missing launch. If the weather moderates it is possible that the Endeavour will put off a launch with a shore party to conduct a search. In any case the Endeavour will take part in a search to-morrow unless the Ngaru is found in the meantime.