Spectacular Whaleboat
p. 31 · Read in the full issue
Accident At Mangaia
From Our Own Correspondent
Mangaia, Cl, Oct. 28.
THE dangerous coral-reef that encircles this island very nearly added to our regrettable list of whaleboat acci dents and fatalities during a recent call of the A/S “Tahitienne.”
When the “Tahitienne” called, sea conditions at the Oueroa landing were at their worst, with a “bad reef,” and a wind that caused the vessel to take six hours to cover as many miles to the anchorage (a misnomer here, as it is too deep to anchor off Oueroa Village).
In spite of adverse conditions, the Veitatei boat put out; but had no sooner got to the channel edge when an in coming surf swamped the whaleboat, capsied her in an extraordinary, cork screw fashion, and left her men struggling in deep water at the dangerous edge of the reef-platform.
One man, who had been injured in a previous accident, succeeded in swimming to the reef, and was picked out of the lagoon unhurt. The rest of the crew stayed by or on the upturned whaler, and after long and hard effort managed to right the boat and bale her out. The schooner, unable to offer aid, had to go to the Atuakoro harbour, so-called, at which anchorage conditions were a little safer; at Atuakoro, passengers (including the Rarotonga “tere”) and mails were landed after sunset, in driving rain, with much effort and discomfort.
Mr. Horrie Niall, District Officer at Wewak, New Guinea, arrived in Sydney from Madang in MV “Merkur” last month on holidays. He was accompanied by Mrs. Niall.