LAUNCH WRECKED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 138, 11 June 1917, Page 4

LAUNCH WRECKED.

TWO FISHERMEN BUSSING, IyTTTLB HOPE OP RECOVERS LAUNCH PARTY SEARCHING. A telephone message was received by the Onehunga police this morning from Mr. Farley, of the State sawmill at Piha, stating that some wreckage ha<i been found, coneisting of cabin door, side of cabin with port holes, painted yellow or cream, lire extinguisher, broom, water-buttle, mattress, tin of motor oil. tobacco, and loose fiflh. The wreckage was found on the rocks at Paratuti, Manukau Heads, by 'Mr. Alexander at 7 o'clock this morning. The lighthouse keeper at the iiamikau Heads also informed the Onehunga police that he saw a launch, which he believed to be the property of J. Gruten, outside the Manukau Heads approaching dark last night, and signalled to the occupants of the boat to come in toy the Main Channel, but they appeared to take no notice. Mr. Joseph Gruten, a fisherman, Who keeps a fish shop at Onehunga and owns two fishing boats trading in the Manukau, said that from the description of the wreckage he is satisfied that it was one of his boats, which left Onehunga ou Saturday night in charge of two men. named William MoMinn and Edward Wilson, and that they were expected to return to Onehunga yesterday afternoon. Mr. Gruten had intended to leave in another launch on Saturday night, but was prevented from so doing through the engine being faulty. When interviewed this morning Mr. Gruten stated that McMinn and Wilson left Onehunga on Saturday night on their usual fishing expedition. They took three fishing nets, and intended to fiah inside the Manukau Heads. If his boat was wrecked he surmises that the engine must have broken down and the boat had drifted out over the bar. This would be quite possible if the launch got into the Papakura Channel, where the water is 35 fathoms deep. It would be impossible for the launch to anchor in the channel on account of the extreme depth, and therefore the men would ibe helpless to prevent it from drifting out to sea. The weather was extremely rough on the 'Manukau on Saturday night and yesterday, a strong north-easterly wind prevailing. William McMinn is a married man, with either three Or four children, and is about 35 years of age, and resides at Cardwell Street, Onehunga. Edward Wilson is also a married man with three or four children, and is a carpenter toy trade. He resides at Arthur Street, Onehunga. Constable Thompson and Mr. Gnrten left Onehunga this morning in a launch and proceeded to the Manukau Heads to investigate.