The Derelict Schooner.

Kaikoura Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 34, 4 May 1906, Page 6

The Derelict Schooner.

Tliere seems absolutely no reason I to doubt that the derelict vesse. ! sighted by the Pateena and Talum in Cook Straits on Sum lay week , and ,-ince sighted and picked ti] j near Kapiti, is the smart littb schooner Bong a a well-know n : timber trader that was f.iiniliet i< many Kaikottra people, as she passed the Peninsula, very clomi in, three or four t imes a month. From list Monday’s •■post" ws take the following:- The tug ; Dtico, which sailed on Thtirs<l ■■■ last to pick up the capsized .-ehoo i tier, supposed to lie tile itoiig.. returned t o port a gain on Sa t ur< 1.1 night unsucees-fiil. On arrive! a Mana Island on Thursday evciiin.. the Duco sought shelter from tn i north westerly gale which wti raging. Site put to sea again ■ tiri. on Friday morning, but could lino no trace of the schooner. Ou pm ting in for shelter under thelceid Kapiti Island. those on board thDuco found the steamer Gertie .-it a.nclior with the capsized schoom : in tow. The Duco came back i< Wellington, leaving the Gcrtii ' still under Kapiti. the weatlu i being too heavy for her lo venture out with her charge. Capt. Abram. | after another examina.t ion of ti..schooner, is convinced that she, the Ronga. Regarding this uit fort uttale oe currency, the “ Pelorus Guardian "■ says:—There seems no reason to; doubt that the unfortunate vess’ is the Bonga, and everyone who has ever known the genial Ned Petersen will deplore the death of as •’ white" a man as ever trod the | deck of a ship. For the past fifteen ! years he has been employed in ; vessels owned by Messrs Brownlee . and Kerr, commencing as an A.B. ! in the Clematis, which vessel he ■ j afterwards commanded. lie was subsi_qiiiiit.lv given command of . the Falcon, but-having always had i a fancy for the speedier, though i less safe. Ronga. he was, about I three_ years ago. transferred to, , that ill-fated cr.it’t. He was ur.- | married. 'Die crew consisted of j i six men ; all were unmarried, and i they had no relatives in New Zea ■' la nd.