CUTTER'S FATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 66, 19 March 1938, Page 14

CUTTER'S FATE.

NO TRACE FOUND. 1 HAD SIX MEN ABOARD. TERRIFIC SQUALL REPORTED (From Our Own Correspondent.) SUVA, March 15. No word has been received of the auxiliary cutter Tui Savu Savu, which left Suva for Gau,on February 25, and the position is now considered serious. The Tai Savu Savu was to load bananas at Gau ports, and should have been back in Suva to connect with the Aorangi on March 3. She left Suva 011 February 25 (after the hurricane warning had been issued), and was instructed to proceed through the Rewa River, where she would have been in sheltered waters as far as Ovalau. Apparently the vessel anchored at fjaucala Point and 011 the morning of February 20 a report stated that she was seen at sea off Naselai. At 1.3U p.m. that day there was a terrific squall in the vicinity and the cutter has not been seen since. There was a crew of five, and a half-caste, in charge of the loading of the bananas, was 011 board. -A boat was sent across to Gau a few days ago, but 710 trace of the missing vessel lias been seen there. It is also reported that a lantern, a boot, an empty drum, a tin of biscuits and a box containing five sulus have been washed up at Kadavu. The Tai Savu Savu, which was built in 1923, was of 14.2(5 tons register, 45ft in length, and was fitted with a Gardner semi-Diesel auxiliary engine. She was owned by Mr. George Barrett and was engaged to'load bananas for Air. J. A. Garriett.