LAUNCH TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1933, Page 5

LAUNCH TRAGEDY

A SEA'FUNERAL TO BE HELD IN COOK STRAIT (Per Press ; Association Copyright). WELLINGTON,. v September 26. Little hope is 'now' .entertained for the. safety of 'the i'6uj-' occupants of the fishing, launch Sah.tma, which became separated frolnr the .other vessels, of ithe . fishing fleet,.-near. Baring Head, in the, gale yesterday (morning, and arrangements have now been made tor a seat, funeral' for • the ’ victims tomorrow .afternoon. ■• v ■

Althougha persistent 1 .'and diligent search Inis' been - conducted,.over a wide area, no trace of the four;men has been discovered.,! ,V ■ L-. •• A ■ , Further .wreckage l ,apparently from •the missing launch,' has been • recovered and a 12ft rowing boat,-painted white, with' a green bottom, was found at Fort Ballance'to-day;* ‘ , The companions of' the missing men in the fishing fleet' believed that the launch is almost certain to have foundered, v and the Cook Strait Fishermen’s Association has made pWV for tho holding of -tlie funeral service 'a't sea tomorrow afternoon. . Tlie party for. the funeral will leave .Island .Bay-at- 2 V ’- o’clock to-morrow afternoon.’and they, willproceed tp the neighbourhood l of'Baring.;Head.' Then the funeral service wllj be held in tho vicinity where, the launch is' believed to have foundered!:'- •’/: ;