LAUNCH DESTROYED

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 114, 11 February 1928, Page 26

LAUNCH DESTROYED

» TOTAL LOSS REPORTED. Bi Telegraph.—Press association Auckland, February 9. The towing launch, Dauntless, was totally destroyed by fire off Maraetai Reef early on Wednesday morning when towing a barge loaded with shingle from Ponui to Auckland. The Dauntless, in charge of Captain Cole, was doing work for Winstone, Ltd. The loss is estimated at about .EGOO. The launch proceeded to Ponui, where Winstone, Ltd., have shingle works, and was towing the heavily-laden bargo back to Auckland, when engine trouble developed The vessel was fitted with Diesel engines, and Captain Cole, who was the only one aboard, worked hard to repair the' defect When off Maraetai Reef, Contain Cole, who was then on deck, noticed smoke issuing from the engine room, and on investigating found that a fire had broken out. The flames spread rapidly. Captain Cole cut the Dauntless adrift from the barge and headed the launch at full speed for the reef. He succeeded in running the craft aground before water commenced to pour into it. The launch was burned to the water’s edge. It is possible that the engines mav be recovered and made use of. but otherwise the launch is a total loss. On hearing (lie news in Auckland. Winstone, Ltd., sent another launch to Maraetai, and the barge was brought safely to Auckland.