AN UNKNOWN VESSEL

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1920, Page 3

AN UNKNOWN VESSEL

REPORTED ASHORE

(Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, Aug. 23,

The Postmaster at Tolaga Bay reports that a party that wept out from Rototahi yesterday saw on a reef, a big vessel, with two masts and no sign of a funnel. The vessel was about live miles off the land. A heavy surf was breaking all over her. The party returned to the shore in the evening and it was then found that the vessel drifted about two miles further in. No light nor any sign of life was on board, Up till last night no wreckage had come A ashore. Hie position of the vessel is between Rototahi and Puatae, about eight miles south of Tolaga Bay and two miles north of Gable end foreland. Parties went out at daylight this morning, but have not returned yet. There is no further information so far as to the identity of the vessel seen on Puatae Rocks yesterday. Men from te station and a party from Tolaga Bay have gone out to search the beaches. It was owing to the absence of telephone facilities on Sunday that 'Grahams were unable to report the incident earlier. T!ie Poherua returned to port at 10 o’clock without being able to throw further .light on the reported wreck. She arrived off Gable End Foreland at two o’clock this morning, and stood by till after six. At that time the steamers Putiki from Hicks Bay and Tiroa from Gisborne were in the locality making a close inspccion of the coastline, but up to the time the Poherua left, apparently had discovered nothing.

NO SIGN OF VESSEL. GISBORNE, Aug. 23. Rototahi Station reports that the men who went to the beach early this morning have returned without finding any trace of wreckage oiy the beaches, or obtaining any sight of the vessel that was visible yesterday. “SEEING THINGS.” AUCKLAND, Aug. 23. The Araliura arrived at noon. She saw nothing of the wreck. GISBORNE, Aug. 23. .Investigation by parties from Tolaga Bay and neighbouring stations, disclosed absolutely no trace of any wreckage on the coast, and the opinion is firmly held in local shipping authorities that a mistake has arisen.