FOUND IN OPOTIKI

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 39, 1 June 1938, Page 2

FOUND IN OPOTIKI

FATHER RETRIEVES BOYS 300-MILE! CHASEI * l ' - SEARCH FOR 4£^|ENXIJRE The father, of one l of . two High School boys who were reported missing from their homos in Gisborne on Friday evening last, travelled .over 300 miles during tlie week-end and returned home from Opotiki with the boys in the early hours of Monday morning. The father was feeling the effects of liis long chase.' The boys were found bv Sergeant Isbister and Constable Rogers, sleeping, in the camping ground near the Opotiki wharf on Saturday night. They were taken to a boarding house where they spent tlie. remainder of the night. It was the spirit of adventure that moved the 15-year-old lads to. make their departure from Gisborne and, although they fulfilled that desire during the week-end, their freedom was short-lived.

Flarly. on Saturday morning the youths hoarded a coastal boat and went to one of the cabins. They were noticed by a steward before the boat sailed and he went to the captain and suggested that the two boys change cabins with another passenger, who was occupying a two-berth cabin. Nothaving heard of these two passengers, tlie captain asked that they be brought before him. The boys explained t-liat they did not have the passage money in cash, but would be able to draw on a bank in Wellington, at the same time producing a. bank book. The captain decided against, taking them as passengers anti sail ' ed without the boys. After the vessel had departed advice was received that the lads had been on board the ship and the father decided to travel to Waikokopu to intercept them. His journey was of no avail.

When the boys saw that avenue was cut. off they decided 1 to hitch-hike to Opotiki. Before they had gone far on the road ' they were given a lift, through the Waioeka Valley by a passing motorist. The lads were accommodated at a 1 hoarding-house ’hi Opotiki and. although nothing was said' to the boys, the police communicated With the Gisborne police and the father left' Gisborne at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday. He arrived at- Opotiki soon after 10 p.m., collected the boys, and returned to- Gisborne, arriving home at about 3 a.m. ,on Monday.