BOARDING PARTY

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29748, 15 February 1962, Page 12

BOARDING PARTY

Police And Seamen ( N.Z. Press Association) NAPIER, February 14. Four naval men from the frigate Taranaki accompanied two police officers when they boarded the stolen schooner Kotiti off Pourere this afternoon. They were SubLieutenant Hulford. Able Seamen Lavin and J. Brosnahan and Leading Seaman B. Lovatt. “The men on the Kotiti were watching us all the time as we approached,” said Leading Seaman Lovatt tonight. “The schooner did not slacken speed at any stage until Lieutenant Glyde called on it to heave to. Then the engine was stopped and we pulled in alongside. "As we were pulling around the stern of the Kotiti, the Olphert struck the stern of the schooner. It damaged the stern railing and one of the men on board said indignantly to Lieutenant Glyde. ‘Look what you’ve done to my ship’,” said Leading Seaman Lovatt. Leading Seaman Lovatt said the men on the schooner did not appear to know much about sailing “They had the mainsail up when we reached them, but the rigging was in a terrible mess and tangle.” The naval men said they could not understand why the three men had not given up long before. The chase, they said, was not particularly exciting, “but is was a good break from routine." When they boarded the Kotiti there was some water, a few tins of canned soup and one tin of spaghetti left on board. A six-gallon fuel drum was half full on deck.

“One of the men said to me. ‘lt was a good run’,” said Leading Seaman Lovatt