Island Swept by Fire

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 938, 3 April 1930, Page 7

Island Swept by Fire

SOUTHERN SCENIC GEM Treacherous Lake Wanaka Pigeon Island, a scenic gem set in the glorious setting of Lake Wanaka, has been swept by fire, the flames spreading from a signal fire made by a launch party driven there by a storm on the lake. Mr W . Watson describes in the following article, specially written for THE SUN, the experiences of the party , which nearly ended in tragedy , and the sequel which has ruined , for the time being, one of the finest scenic attractions in Otago.

THE PERILS of the sea are known to all, but few of the many visitors to our great Southern Lakes realise what rough weather means to the men who maintain a regular sendee on these vast waters. Lake Wanaka, like lhc others, on occasions is a very treacherous stretch of water, and it is due to the skill of the launch men that the small craft, which sail on this lake are brought through such storms without serious loss. However, the consequences following an accident to one of the launches last month will be brought forcibly before visitors to Wanaka for some time.

On February 10 one of the fleet of three launches owned by the Wanaka Ferry Co. left Pembroke for Minaret Station, which is two-thirds of the way up Lake Wanaka on the western shore. A strong northerly was blowing, and although the launch had to battle against a heavy head sea the whole way up. Minaret Wharf was reached in good time. There the recent station manager, with his family and their belongings, were embarked, and the return journey commenced. When half of the distance to Pembroke had been travelled, the launch was off Pigeon Island, where lhe weather was bad, at this part of the lake the heaviest seas being encountered. By the time the waves have reached Pigeon Island they have travelled a good 10 miles straight down the lake, and form a heavy sea, not the long even swell of salt water, hut the peculiar short waves of fresh lakes. The launch man was quick to realise ing t.’he storm, when one of the worst of calamities that any sailor has to overcome befell the little craft. The boat ceased to answer to her helm. The launch man was quick to realise his position. The rudder of his ship had broken loose. Conditions w'erc such that it was impossible to attempt to rig up a temporary steering gear. To get into the shelter of the island was the task. At the Mercy of the Waters. The waves ruthlessly rolled along, wildly tossing the launch, and at times it seemed as if it was doomed to be swamped. Fortunately, the course taken by the launches on the way up and down the lake is comparatively close to the eastern shor.*_£»f Pigeon Island,

and by clever seamanship the pilot was able to bring his charge into shelter at the southern end of the island, but the time spent in doing so was a very trying one to all aboard. It was by j opening out the engine whenever a wave

swung flic nose of the boat in the desired direction that the launch was slowly brought inshore. To add to the anxiety of the party, it was found impossible to make a landing in any of the bays on that side of the island, as none of them offered any shelter whatever. For a time the island was slowly being left astern,

} and the hope of finding immediate i safety, on land seemed doomed; as the precipitous sides of the southern shores : were approached, quieter water could i be seen, and it was a great relief to all ! to find that they were making way towards shelter, but the nature of the island seemed to prohibit landing. How- ; ever, a small shelf of rock at the water's i edge was sighted, and by further clever handling the launch was manoeuvred alongside and deep water was found right inshore, which enabled the party to land and secure the launch. Ileld on Ledge of Rock.

There is a hut near the northern end of the island, but it was obvious that the party was strictly confined to the small ledge of rock; the steep sides of the island, towering 30ft to 100 ft above them, barred their way. Darkness soon forced the party into the launch, and although a fire was lit ashore and a careful watch kept, the hours slowly passed without a sign of help. The non-arrival of the launch at Pembroke created anxiety, but it was thought by the manager of the ferry company that, owing to the rough state of the lake, the launch had been detained for the night at Minaret Station, with the hope that the morning would bring better sailing conditions. The means of communicating with Minaret Staton from Pembroke is by launch, so that it was impossible to obtain definite news from the station without sending out another boat. Nothing was done that night to determine the whereabouts of tiie launch. ! Shortly after daylight next morning a hcavv cloud of smoke blowing down

the lake early attracted attention, and a launch went up to investigate, and found Pigeon Island to be on fire. A search was made around the island, and with difficulty the disabled boat was located. The party bad a most unpleasant night in the launch; all were miserably hungry and cold. I Unfortunately, the record of these

events does not end with the party being brought to safety. The. fire lit in the early morning to act as a signal spread beyond friendly limits, and the flames rapidly swept up the steep sides of the island. To attempt to follow them was im-

possible. Within two hours the fire had spread among the manuka scrub higher on the island, and the flames fought freely on their destructive way. For two days the lire travelled unchallenged over the entire length of the island, and thus this island, with the attractive lakelet on its summit, has been robbed of its covering of bush for the second time in the history of white man's association with Lake Wanaka. Charming Lake Paradise. Many a visitor to Wanaka can happily recall a visit to Pigeon Island, the pleasant climb up the track from the wharf, and the variety of never-to-be-forgotten views to be obtained in all directions, as one follows the easy gradient to the the island, where lies the lake (known as Paradise), 480 ft above Lake Wanaka. This small lake is one of the mysteries of Nature, for the source from which its supply comes is not known. The water in the lake is always fresh, and rainbow trout liberated there some time ago have found it to be a suitable home. The charms of this lakelet are many, but undoubtedly the greatest is the view l from the northern end, looking south with the mirror waters of Paradise Lake as a foreground. To the left towers Mount Burke, with Stevenson Arm (an arm of Wanaka) dividing the range. of which this mountain is the highest point. It is attached to the mai f aid , by a small neck of land seen from the island. The centre of this grand panorama is the arm of the lake, at the end - of which is situated Pembroke, with the range of mountains, and Mount Roy as the crowning peak, to the west. The: right of the picture is composed of the; , entrancing arrangement of land and water formed bj r the lake at Glen Dhu Bay. Few visitors to Wanaka camp oil Pigeon Island, and the past time-table of tbo launches lias made it impossible.

for day picnickers to witness the sunset from Paradise Lake. It is unquestionably the greatest glory of Wanaka to sit on the *horc of this lakelet and watch the sun go down behind the mountains beyond Glen Dhu. Looking down on Wanaka from this elevation is like a peep into a fairyland, as the sun colours the landscape with glorious hues. To add greater beauty to the agreeable stretches of the main lake below, the little lake on the island adds its reflecting powers to the scene. When the sun has left the island, and one commences the descent to camp, there is a further pleasure in watching the sunlight slowly slipping from the higher peaks which border the upper reaches of the lake, and the lengthy shadows just before tlie sun finally disappears. Let us hope that in the future tbe beauty of this island will be more appreciated. and that the authorities wilt consider means for restoring Ihc recent damage and take the necessary precautions to prevent the gorse from obtaining a hold on this beautiful place, such as it had prior to the fire. Surely the Tourist Department, which in the past has devoted its attention to the Peninsula at Queenstown and brought it to its present state of garden perfection, would help the efforts of the local people should they decide on a definhe scheme of restoration.