A WAIF FROM THE SEA.
(Auckland Herald.)
The following ha 9 been reported at the Custom-house:— •' On March 4th, as the masters of the schooner Helena and cutter Wanderer were on the beach at Blind Bay, Great Barrier, they saw a raft heing floated in by the action of the tide, and secured it as soon as it arrived at the beach. The raft is constructed out of a ship's grating, of hickory wood, and is about four feet square. It has a mast- in the centre, and a flag (P of the Commercial code of signals) on top, Avith a piece of iron attached to keep it upright. The mast is made fast to the sides of the grating with stays of rope. A quantity of candle grease is on the grating, and some writing in chalk, which could not be made out owing to the action of the weather." The questions naturally arise, Where did this raft come from, and was it occupied by a human beiug? Has there been a vessel wrecked, and some one escaped by the aid of this raft* or has some one been sent adrift from a vessel on it, and left to the mercy of the ocean? The fact of candle grease beiug found on the raft favors the idea that whoever occupied it had candles, and used them as a signal by night. The raft is to be brought to town next week, when something may possibly be learned to identify it.
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Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 74, 27 March 1878, Page 2
Word Count
251A WAIF FROM THE SEA. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 74, 27 March 1878, Page 2
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