Life Lost When Launch Founders

Chronicle (Levin), 11 April 1949, Page 3

Life Lost When Launch Founders

. : ' AUCKLAND, April 10. Oue of the crew of three men is believed to have been cfrowned when the 48ft fishing launeh Kina sank after striking a submerged rock between .Tiritiri Island and Bollon's Rock, - in the Hauraki Gulf, while outward bound from Auckland on Saturday. He is: PETER HEMI, aged 50, single, a halfcaste Maori, of Ponsonby. Others on the launch were the mas/ ter, Frederick Hughes, and David iuicchell. Mr. Hughes swam a distance of 50 yards to Tiritiri Island and returned in a dinghy to r'escue Mitehell, who was clinging to an oil drum. The launch was valued at £5000. Mr. Hughes said the Kina was travelling at about eight knots. Mr Hemi was at the wheel an'd Mr. Hughes was in the wheelhouse with him. He looked up and saw that the launeh was about 120 yards off Tiritiri. As he toid Mr Hemi to swing the wheel to port, he notieed a dark patch whieh he realised was a submerged rock, direetly in the path of the launch. f'l put the boat in reverse gear, but it was too late, ' ' he said, ' ' and the launch struck the rock. The vessel rau over the top of the rock and into deep water on the other side." Mr. Hughes said he took over the

wheel and steered f oi the shore but the launch filled rapidly with water and when -it was 50 yards from Tiritiri it sank at a ! depth of about 10 f eet. Mr. Hemi and Mr. Mitehell clung to a 12-gallon drum attaehed to the launch by a line, while Mr. Hughes swam for the shore to get assistance. When he reached the island he looked baek and saw Mr. Hemi had left the drum and was swimming towards the shore. Mr. Hughes found a dinghy and rowed back to the launch. Mr. Mitehell was stJ.ll holding on to the drum but there was uo sign of , Mr. Hemi. Searehes. were condueted by the staff of the lighthouse aud by a coastguard cutter without sueeess. Mr. Mitehell was 'still suffering froin. exhaustion when he was, brought to Auckland in the cutter. The iaunch, which was owned by Kia Ora Eisheries, was not insured.