Six Missing in Fishing Launch

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 665, 17 May 1929, Page 1

Six Missing in Fishing Launch

NOT SEEN SINCE SUNDAY FIRE VISIBLE ON ISLAND (Special to THE SVNJ WHAKATANE, Thursday. A party of six, consisting of Messrs. J. Herd and son, J. Smith and Seymour, and two Maori boys, C. Savage and D. Savage, which left Matata to go fishing near Rurima Island on Sunday morning has not returned, and fears are entertained for their safety. They should have returned the same evening. The sea has been very rough in the Bay of Plenty. It is now moderating, and if they are now on the islands tho party may be able to get away toon. Captain Ryder, of the scow Parato, which left Tauranga for Whakatane yesterday afternoon, was Instructed to keep a lookout. The vessel passed the island at seven o’clock this morning, and saw no signs of the men or the launch. A launch is to be despatched from Whakatane tomorrow morning to search the island. A message from Matata states that ihe party had only two loaves, and that there are no water supplies on Rurima Island. What appeared to be a signal fire "as seen on the island from Matata last evening, and it was noticed again today. The island is about seven miles from the mainland at Matata. The Auckland scow Puhoi was to have called there today to investigate, but was not able to approach within a mile and a-half owing to the state nf the sea. A resident of Matata inspected the island with a telescope today, and saw what he took to be two men. Whether inese two are the only ones there is unknown. No sign was seen of the launch, which is an ordinary fishing boat.