EXCITING MINUTES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 249, 2 August 1937, Page 6

EXCITING MINUTES

LAUNCH IN HEAVY SURF. STORES FOR SUNDAY ISLAND. fine seamanship displayed. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Some exciting minutes were spent m the surf off Sunday Island when the launch of the Maui Pomare endeavoured' to land stores and survey equipment through the surf on the ship’s recent visit. First the Maui Pomare called at Sunday Island on the way to Samoa from New Zealand. With a heavy swell pounding on the beach the only way to get the stores ashore was to float them into the surf, and with that object a launch, in charge of the chief officer (Mr Holden) went as near the line of breakers as possible, with the idea of sending lines ashore by rockets. The ' first attempt was not successful, and on the following day another attempt was made. This time a big swell broke outside the ordinary breaker line and the launch was caught. Two Australian tourists on the Maui Pomare, Messrs K. Hopkins and H. Nicbolls, said that the • launch took two seas over her side. Four men had to take to the oars, and it was largely due to the fine seamanship of Mr Hol-den-that the launch was quickly pulled otit of trouble. The Maui Pomare had to make a second call at the Island to complete the landing of stores, and to pick up five Sunday Island settlers who were dissatisfied with the island life and Irished to return.