NAUTICAL ADVENTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1925, Page 1

NAUTICAL ADVENTURE

MINISTERIAL PARTY AGROUND. WIIAKATANE. January 29. A minor launching adventure resulted in an irritating delay to the progress through the Bay of Plenty of the -Minister for Lands, the Hon. A. 1). M’Leod, and party. The Minister left To Puke by motorcar. and was then taken by launch on >.i visit of inspection down the Kaituna River, for which certain improvement works are proposed. '1 lie party travelled about twelve miles by launch and landed on a sand hill near the mouth of the river. After the business laid been completed the party again embarked on tho launch lor the Makclu township, where motor-ears were waiting to continue the trip. Soon after re-starting in the launch, however, the engine broke down, and investigation showed that extensive repairs would be necessary, and that these would take too long. Anchor was dropped and Mr Ford, the owner of the launch, set out in the launch’s dinghy for his home, about a mile and a half distant, to bring another launch. This, unfortunately, was not there, but lie collected sailing gear and rowed back to the disabled launch where the members of the party had been possessing their souls in patience for about an hour.

Sails were soon hoisted, hut the only effect was to send the launch on to the lee shore; here she stuck last. Tt was noted that there was an unlucky number of thirteen people on hoard, three being members of Parliament. Filially, as a result of Air Ford jumping overboard and pushing, and by the other members of the party giving whatever help they could the craft was floated off.

In spite of the use of much nautical language by the ilirco moinbeis. of Parliament, the launch again ran into the hank. Again she was floated oft, and with the mainsail filling to a favourable breeze and with the jib set as an iniprovised spinnaker for the last straight run she sailed up to Ford’s landing in approved yachting style. 'l’ho mishap was responsible for a delay of about three hours. Alatata, at which the party should have arrived at one o’clock, was not reached till nearly four o’elork; deputations at Ala lata and Edgecumbc were therefore seriouslv inconvenienced, while the Alinisterial party suffered through having to go without lunch. Yvhakatane was reached at seven o’clock.