THE MISSING BOAT. REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT STEAMER'S CRUISE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 132, 1 December 1902, Page 5

THE MISSING BOAT. REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT STEAMER'S CRUISE.

Captain Worsley, of the Government steamer Countess of Ranfurly, has furnished the Premier with a report of the second cruise made by that vessel in search for the Elingamite's missing boat. The report states that the vessel left Mangonui on the 19th ult., and on the following day searched the Great King, but found no signs of life or recent occupation. A small cairn, apparently ten or fifteen years old, was found on the top of the neck dividing north-west and north-east bays. The Western Kings were also examined under difficulties of tide and current. The vessel then proceeded eastward, with the intention of searching to the south-west of Cape Maria, but was prevented by wind and currents from doing so. At noon on the 23rd, when north-east-by-east of the West King, the barque Gogoburn from Newcastle to Callao, was boarded. She had passed thirtythree miles north of the Kings, and had seen nothing. The captain promised to keep a look-out for the next I(jU miles to the eastward. The Countess of Ranfurly then zig-zagged back to Auckland, having covered 1923 miles in the whole search. The captain considered the only hope now was that the boat might have been picked up by a, ship bound east. The sum of £3 3s was collected at the Gore polling-booth on Tuesday last in "id of the sr.ff6rßr& by the Elingamite disaster. A great deal of interest was taken in the concert promoted by the residents of Day's Bay and Muratai, in aid of the Elingamite Fund, held' at the Pavilion on Saturday evening. The whole of the residents were present, and a Jarge number of people journeyed from town by the special boat, the result being that the hall was crowded to excess. An attractive programme was gone through, and was very much enjoyed, encores being demanded for nearly every item. Mr. Minifie'a string band played two overtures during the evening, songs were contributed by Miss Pulsford, Miss Birch. Miss Wills, Messrs. Zachariah and' Devine, a recitation by Mrs. Wardell, a charming skirt dance by Miss West, a cake walk by Miss Nonie Tabuteau and Mr. Roy Muir, gramaphone selections by Mr. Cooke, club-swinging and dumbell exercises by the Physical Training School and Mr. Dovey, and a quartette by Messrs. Bannister, Palmer, Pope, and Hollis. It is expected that something over £20 will be handed over to the Relief Fund as the result of the concert.