MISSING A WEEK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 4 October 1927, Page 7

MISSING A WEEK.

LAUNCH AND OWNER. LEFT AUCKLAND FOR RUSIELL SEARCH PROVES UNSUCCESSFUL. It is feared that Mr. Edwin Walker, of Waitangi, near Russell, who left Auckland on Monday of last'week in the launch Speedwell, for .Russell, has been lost. A thorough searcli of the coast has failed to bring any news of the missing man.

Mr. Walker, who is an elderty retired farmer, recently brought the Speedwell to Auckland for overhaul. The work beng completed he left on his return journey about 2 p.m. on Monday, September 22, having advised his wife by telegram that the wind was favourable.

It is believed that Mr, Walker put in for the night, either at Kawau or Little Omaha, a tavourite cove r.outh of Cape Rodney. On Tuesday morning the wind blew hard from the ' south-west, but Mr. Walker usually hugged the land and should not have experienced any difficulties as regards the weather. If everything had gorib the Speedwell should have reached-Russell on Tuesday evening, as she was capable of a steady nine knots or more "when required. When Mr. Walker failed to arrive at 'Russell on Tuesday the police there are informed and inquiries by telephone were made at all stations on the coast. The only news that was forthcoming was that the Speedwell had been seen off which is eighty miles south of Russell,-' on Tuesday morning. A careful search of the coast was made by Mr. Eric Walker, the mining man's son, and Mr. H. King, in the 40-foot launch Huia. Mr. Walker, jun., arrived in- Auckland yesterday afternoon, and reported the matter to the Marine Department and the waterfront police.

A radio message, asking all vessels to keep a sharp look-out for the missing craft, was broadcast from Auckland yesterday. .

The Speedwell, which ia shown on the Hlustrations page in this issue, is 32 feet in length, 7 feet 6 inches in beam, and is of rather shallow draught. She was built in 1913 by C. Bailey and Sons for Mr. W. _A. Wilkinson, and is of V bottom design. During the last two years of the war she did harbour patrol tinder the defence authorities. In 1919 Mr. Wilkinson sold the launch to Mr. Walker, who used her for the tourist and deep-sea fishing business. It was Mr. Walker's custom to bring the boat down to Auckland evciy two years for overhauL

Before leaving Russell Mr. Walker fitted a solid' mast and carried a sail for emergency use, and it is probable that an unconfirmed report that the Speedwell was seen under sail by. a fisherman off Wide Berth, a reef" further up the coast from Leigh, late on Tuesdav, is correct.

.As a week has elapsed since Mr. Walker was last seen it is feared that he may have been blown off the land and swamped in heavy seas, as the launch had a big cockpit.