FISHING LAUNCH MISSING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 64, 6 September 1911, Page 4

FISHING LAUNCH MISSING

~' tn- ,g. «. y^ ALL SIC ARCH' UXAYAIUXf;. ' TWO MKX ABOARD. * A fishing iaunch. with two men aboard, is missing from Moturoa, and all search yesterday was unavailing. The .launch is the • l 'Mana." driven by an oil engine, and owned by Messrs 'Martin and Heading. The little vessel put out at about six o'clock on Monday fflornnvg, manned by Martin ami another young man, recently a member of the crew of the .barque Alnrgit. They were on a fishing trip, and went in the direction of Waitara. A fresh wind was blowing" during' Monday night, and when morning brought no news of the launch some anxiety was experienced concerning her safety. With the fishermen's proverbial •gond-heartednes-s,' two other launches were put into commission, ami the whole coast, from Okato in thesouth to away beyond Waitara in tin* north, was searched, hut without finding any trace of the missing boat. One of the launches "spoke'' the steamer Tainui, bound from Mokau to Waitara, but Captain Jensen reported that he had not seen any such craft. The searchers then returned to Xow Plymouth.

Last evening the Collector of Customs, Mr. J. IT. Ilcmpton, was communicated with, and he telegraphed the circumstances to the Minister of Marine, witk a request that he should authorise the. engagement of the Kotahi, of Waitarn, to search for the launch. .Should the answer to the Minister this morning not prove favorable, three launches from the port will put out again to look for the little boat. Meanwhile, grave fears are entertained for her safety and that of her crew. Their provisions were suilicient to last for only one day.

TI'KXKI) UP SAt'KLY. 7 ACCIDENT TO THr) MACHINERY,, Mr. Whiteford. of tihe breakwater Ho* tel, informed us late last night that llm "Mana" had arrived back in port at about twenty minutes to ten o'clock. He had gathered from the men that they wero lishing during Monday off \\'aitara,'ahout four or live miles out. and started on the home journey at about five o'clock. An hour later something went wrong with tihe engine,. and they were unable to set it in motion again. Darkness came on, and they anchored, but meantime they had drifted some miles in front of the strong westerly breeze that was blowing. All through yesterday tliey worked at the engine, desperate with hunger. It was just on six o'clock when at bust it. responded to their efforts, and the hungry men once more set out for home, arriving as above stated, hungry, worn-out and tired.