LAUNCH OVERDUE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 9, 5 October 1927, Page 9

LAUNCH OVERDUE

NO NEWS FOR OVER A WEEK Dominion Special Service. Auckland, October 3. Grave fears are entertaiped for the safety of Edwin Walker, an elderly retired farmer, of Waitangi, near Russell, who left Auckland on Monday, September 26, alone in his 33-foot launch, Speedwell. No news has been received of the craft for a week, and a search of the coast has so far been fruitless. Walker recently brought the craft to Auckland for overhaul, and on tho completion of the work, set out on the return journey, advising his wife by telegram that he was leaving with a favourable wind. When he failed to arrive at Russell on Tuesday evening, some anxiety was fcj and the Russell police made inquiries by telephone at all stations on tho coast. News was received- that the Speedwell was seen off Leigh, near Warkworth, early on Tuesday morning’ by a fisherman, but no further news was forthcoming. A careful search of the coast from Cape Brett to the snot where the craft was last reported to have been seen • conducted on Saturday and Sunday, but without result. Mr. Walker, junior, arrived- at Auckland yesterday, and has been in close touch with the Marine Department and water police. Messages received from the lighthouse-keeper at Cape Brett, and from the whaler Hananui 11. stationed at Whangamumu arc of- a negative nature. A radio message has been broadcast to all vessels in the vicinity io keep a look-out for the missing launch. It is thought possible that the boat may be sheltering, or that in the event of engine trouble it was driven toward the Great .Barrier bv Wednesday’s easterly wind. Walker ‘is said to be an experienced navigator, and he and his ernft are wellknown to deep-sea fishermen who visit ; Russell. The Speedwell is equipped with a4O h.p. engine. She was .built before the war. and was. seaworthy in all respects. She was licensed . both for harbour and extended river limits'.