SUMNER LIFEBOAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1938, Page 7

SUMNER LIFEBOAT

FISHING LAUNCH BROUGHT INTO PORT VESSEL RUNS OUT OF FUEL ON COASTAL VOYAGE (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. The Sumner lifeboat crew rescued last night, the big fishing launch, Rosa Marie, which had been adrift for three days. The Rosa Marie, which was recentlpurchased by the South Sqa Fishin r Company, for fishing at th<? Chatham Islands, was on her way from Port Chalmers to Lyttelton. Two Port Chalmers men, J. J. Abernethy and A. Mitchell, comprised her crew. The launch left Port Chalmers on Thursday morning and left Timaru a’ 1 p.m. on Friday. The crew’s troubles started when the engine broke down off Akaroa Heads. During the night the launch was blown out of sight of land. Hard work by the crew was successful in starting the engine again on Saturday, and when landfall was made off Le Bon's Bay, a course was set for Lyttelton. When the petrol supply ran out soon afterwards, a sail was set and at 9 p.m. on Saturday night the anchor was dropped, about seven miles off Lyttelton. A light breeze enabled the launch to make her way close inshore yesterday afternoon and finally she drifted into Sumner Bay at G. 25 p.m.

The signalman at Adderley Head signal station sighted what he thought might be signals from the small vessel and at his instance the alarm was given. The motol lifeboat. Rescue, the only one of its type in New Zealand, located the launch after an hour's search, and towed her to Lyttelton. The two vessels arrived in port at about 9.45 p.m.