CALL OF THE" SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 214, 6 September 1912, Page 6

CALL OF THE" SEA.

AUCKLAND BOY'S ESCAPADES. AX ESCAPE FROM CUSTODY An interesting story is being recounted just now of the a<l ventures of a young Aucklamler. who found a shore life irksome, and successfully defied not only his friends, but the law also, in achieving his purpose, which was to roam tile blue -seas, and view the "world for himself. He is a strapping young sis footer, 17 years of age, *d<l i≤ the only son of it very well-known Queen Street business man. As a small boy he displayed a keen interest in boats, and before eutering hie teens luade and sailed several very fine models. With ea«h additional year his interest in boats and ships increased, and he pleaded hard to be allowed to go to soa. Being an. only boy, his mother naturally opposed the idea, and urged him to at least wait until he was 21, while the father also pleaded that the son should learn the business, to which he would in time succeed. The call of the sea, however, was too strong, and one bright morning the lad was missing. Investigation proved that two youths, one of whom answered the description given, had sailwl the previous evening on a Notwegian. sailing vessel. It was further ascertained that this vessel had gone to the Great Barrier to complete loading before leaving New Zealand waters. The assistance ot the law vu at. once invoked, and the issue of a warrant resulted in the boy's apprehension a-t the Barrier. The youth, however, was ol a resourceful turn of mind, and having made tip his mind to travel, lie apparently bad no compunction in breaking bqunds. How he escaped from custody is not quite clear, but it seems that he had gathered some knowledge of the locality on previous visits to the Barrier -with his father, who is a. wellknown yachtsman. At any rate, the police oflicer on the afternooii following the boy's arrest had a surprise when the prisoner, allowed out in the garden for exercise, leaped the wall and took to his heels. High hills near by provided ample covering, and he made speed}- tracks for Whangaparapara, and there boarded the barque just ;in Bhe was sailing, en route to foreign porta. The boy is a lad of excellent character. He has useful assets in the way ol heaJth, strength, and a knowledge oi boate, so that, as his. father (who is now reconciled to his son's action) says, he should really \ie none the worse for his adventures abroad.