DARING YACHT THIEVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 May 1922, Page 2

DARING YACHT THIEVES.

CRAFT SIGHTED AT SEA. SAILING TOWARDS TGNIGA. THREE MEN SEEN ABOARD. . " \r Dramatic developments have followed upon the theft of the auxiliary yacht Raata from her anchorage in Auckland harbour on the night of Wednesday, May ti, and the sequel yet remains to be told. The missing vessel has been sighted at sea by an incoming steamer, identified, and left to pursue her voyage in the direction of the South Sea Islands. The facts so far known constitute a story of piracy as daring and hazardous as any in the criminal annals of the Dominion. The owner of the yacht, Mr. William Standish, had intended visiting the Great Barrier for a holiday, and, as he contemplated being away for several weeks, had taken aboard an ample supply of provisions and a good stock of benzine. It would appear to be practically certain that this fact was known to the thief. At all events, when_the little craft disappeared from lier mooring she contained sufficient provender, and fuel for the auxiliary engines, for an extended cruise. Once the police were apprised of what had happened, investigations were set afoot, with the result that it was not long before a clue to the crime was forthcoming. On the day after the stealing of the yacht, namely, on Thursday, May 4, a store at Mercury Bay, or Whitianga, as it is known to searfaring folk, situated on the Coromandel coast, was broken into during the early hours of the morning and some clothing, provisions, and tobacco stolen. Jt was reported at the time that the thieves got away from Whitianga in a launch, a description which might be accounted for by the fact that the Raata is an auxiliary yacht, and probably put out from the litle coastal port under her power. POLICE THROW A NET AROUND THE CULPRITS. One significant act connected the robbery at the store with the major crime of the theft of the yacht. On board the later were some pairs of rubber, seaboots. The tracks left by the unauthorised visitors to the seaside store on their way back to the Whitianga wharf were made by just such boots. The culprits in each case are therefore adjudged to be the same.

Investigations in other directions have led the police to believe that the yacht, was in the first place purloined by one individual, and that he was later joined in his adventure by two others, although at the outset suspicion pointed tn one direction only. In order to throw a net around the venturesome thieves, the police sent out telegraphic messages to all the ports in the province and to the various lighthouses, instructing all the recipients to be on the look-out for the Raata and her self-ap-pointed crew. They also issued wireless messages to vessels at sea, containing a description of the missing yacht, and stating that ft was surmised she was making for the South Sea Islands. WAIRUNA PASSES YACHT, ON MONDAY. Among those who received this wireless message was the captain of the Union Company’s steamer Wairuna, which arrived in Auckland from San Francisco on Tuesday night. He and his officers reported to the police that at mid-day on Monday they had sighted a yacht answering the description of the Raata. That was in latitude 32 degrees 58 min. south, longitude 178 degrees 2 min. east, or 286 miles north-east of Auckland, and some 120 miles off the New Zealand coast. This would be about midway between Auckland and the Kermadacs.

When the yacht was sighted from the ? + eamer the latter’s course was altered to enable her approach near enough to the small craft to give those on board an oportunity to signal to the steamer if they so desired, and also for the purpose of closer investigation. A fresh north-westerly wind was blowing at the time and the yacht, which the Wairuna’a captain described as schooner rigged, was running free with reefed sails. Three men, dressed in blue suits, could be discerned in the cockpit of tl»e little craft from the deck of the steamer. They made no sign, nor any signal, and, since the Wairuna’s captain had no authority to intervene, he resumed his course and came on to Auckland. As for the adventurers on the yacht, they proceeded likewise upon their voyage, whether to Tonga or to the Kermadacs, to take in a further supply of stores, can only be surmised at this juncture. The intrepid nature of their escapade may be judged from the fact that the Raata is a comparatively small vessel, 40 ft. in length by 7 ft. beam, with a draught of only 3* ft. She is, however, reported to be a good sea boat. WARRANT OF ARREST ISSUED. A warrant has now been issued for the arrest of the principal party, believed to be implicated in the theft of the yacht. Furthermore, the police have communicated by wireless with the captains of H.M.S. Chatham and Veronica, which are both en route to Suva, requesting them to pick, up the yacht and her occupants if she is seen by the warships. The Tongan Government has also been communicated with and asked to arrest any boat arriving there without a clearance from Auckland. It is accordingly anticipated taat those concerned in the affair will be apprehended at an early date.