ACCIDENT ON FERRY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 134, 23 June 1937, Page 7

ACCIDENT ON FERRY

Presa Association.)

Auckland Incident

(By Telegraph—

AUCKLAND, Last Night. HedVy seas in WaitOmate hdrbouf todight were responsibie for the ovfcrtiirniug of a large tfansporfc lorry ftilly laden which was crosSing from Auckland to Devonport on the vehicular ferty bOat, The reirlforcCd bulWdrks Of the vessel prevented the lorty from toppling into the harbour aiid the keavy vehicle Catne to rest on the dOci lying on its left-hand side. The lOtry, which Was df the sixwheeled trailer type, was OWiied by Northeril Trhiisport Limited. Just aftfer the .ferry boat had cleared the end of the eastCrh tide dcflector she ettCOUnterea the full fOroe of the seas which wero beirig SWept down the harbour by a strong northeasierly Wind. Suddenly the lorry started to lurCH attlazingly and at the first sign of danger the driver •ghmfied Cledr. After one or two more ominous jlurcheS thO heayy Vehicle suddenly ]to|xjpled Ovet and Caine to fest agaittst ! "the pott bulWarks. Its ChrgO Was Covered with tarpaiilins and seCiitely lashed and accordingly intacf. AS the lOrry crashed down on to the deck its petrol tank bursfc open. One of the fefry boat 's handa dnshed f oTward With a fire CxtingdishCr in fcase of eniergehcy, but almost iminediately a wave btoke over the deck alid washed the flood of petrol away. tn kddition to the loffy seVefal Othet VehicleS were On boafd the ferry boat. Howevef, thero was SUffiCient clear space in the bows to enable the cars to be driven ashore at Devonport. Later a break-doWn truCk Was brdiight on board the fCrfy at the Auckland landing but the lorry still reclining on its side had to be unloaded before any attempt cpuid be made to right it.