Crowds At Napier See Boats’ Berth

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

Crowds At Napier See Boats’ Berth

(New Zealand Press Association)

NAPIER, February 14.

The stolen schooner Kotiti’s arrival in Napier harbour tonight was treated as a gala event by Napier citizens. More than an hour and a half before the schooner and the naval launch Olphert berthed, people lined the foreshore in cars and crowded the heads of Higgins wharf. The wharf itself was kept clear by the police, but by the time both vessels r-rived thousands of people were waiting outside the cleared area to catch a glimpse. There was almost no confusion. The only disturbing element was provided by two Napier fire engines. Due to have a practice run on the wharf adjacent, the fire engines were, driven on to Higgins wharf by mistake

They were soon redirected by the police.

The crowd was well behaved and gave the police no trouble. As early as 6.15 p.m. cars were parked all along the Napier foreshore, their owners trying to catch sight of the two vessels on the horizon. Many had binoculars with which they continually raked the horizon. The Olphert and the Kotiti crossing Hawke Bay were visible to the naked eye As soon as the vessels hove in sight, a stream of cars moved down the Marine parade on to the wharves. It began to get dark shortly after 7.30 p.m. and the people were able to see the small orange port light of the Kotiti about a mile off shore from the breakwater side of Higgins wharf. Many people had transistor radios with them to help while away the time between the sighting of the vessels and their arrival. After the men from the Kotiti had been taken into police custody, people swarmed over the wharf to inspect the Olphert.