BOAT TAKEN AWAY

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 75, 30 March 1931, Page 10

BOAT TAKEN AWAY

ABANDONED ON BEACH

TWO BOYS SUSPECTED

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") AUCKLAND, This Day. Tho 2G-foot mullet boat Mahoe, which was discovered'to be missing from, her moorings in tho Tamaki River on Saturday morning, was found lator in the day high and dry on the beach at Cheltenham. Tho boat, which is owned by Mr. B. E. Fcnton, was'not damaged, having been run ashore in the middle of the beach.

When tho owner missed the boat ho went down the Tamaki River in a launch in search. Ho was informed at Panmuro that a boat answering tho description of tho Mahoo had been sceu passing tho Panmuro wharf on Friday afternoon. There- were two boys aboard, and judging by the manner in which the boat was being handled they were not experienced yachtsmen.

Later in the afternoon Mr.. Fenton learned that the yacht had been scon at Cheltenham, and he found the Mahoe on tho beach. Two heavy anchors and about 20 fathoms of rope were missing, and Mr. Fenton expressed the opinion that the two boys seen on the yacht had evidently anchored somewhere on Friday night, and being unable to raise'tho anchors again had released the boat by throwing the ropes overboard. The lock had been broken off the cockpit floor, and the food locker had also been forced. Stores consisting chiefly of tinned stuffs had been taken, and blankets aboard had been liberally coated with honey from a tin in the locker. Although the Mahoe was not damaged, its gear was badly tangled. When Mr. Fenton went aboard he found a considerable number of empty shells to fit a .45 bore pistol scattered about the cockpit, together with a live cartridge. There were no signs of any weapon. The police expressed the opinion that it was probably the work of two schoolboys, who were missing from their homes. . ___^______ — .