AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 111, 20 May 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND SPECIAL.

OPENING FOOTBALL SEASON.

[Special to Tidies.]

;> An ’.land, last night. The football cup ..atch~s commenced this afternoon. In j senior games City beat Ponsonbv, a 1 1 Parnell suffered defeat at the hands jf Grafton.. North Shore were victorious against Newton. In each of these matches several accidents occurred, some of a very serious nature.

THE LINDA WEBER. It is eight weeks to-day since the Auckland brigantine Linda Weber sailed from Gisborne, bound for Ngunguru, where sho was to load coal for Auckland, and since being sighted off the East Cape threo days later, no tidings whatever have been received of the vessel. It is now feared that sho has gone to swell the list of the mysterious disappearances of vessels which have taken place on the East Coast of the North Island during the past few' years. The Linda Weber brought a cargo of coal from Newcastle to Gisborne in March last, and on discharging took in 85 tons of sand ballast. She sailed on April 20th for Ngunguru, the master being instructed, if the wind was not favorable to make that port, to proceed on

to Hokianga to load timber for Sydney. It was blowing a light north-west wind when the vessel sailed from Gisborne,she being then in first-rate order so far as the hull and gear were concerned, and having the usual quantity of ballast carried, the vessel being provided with shifting boards. Threo days after sailing the Linda Weber was sighted off the East Capo by the ketch Clomatis, bound from Gisborne to Ngunguru. The same night a heavy southerly “ buster ” sprang up, and it is surmised that the Linda Weber capsized in one of the fierce squalls which prevailed. The crew which sailed in the vessel were : Master, Simon McKenzie ; mate, George Finney ; cook and A. 8., Alfred Hooper ; A.B.’s, Mclntyro (commonly known as “ Scotty ”), Clement Austin, and a man who shipped at Gisborne, whose name is unknown in Auckland ; boy, John Malone. Captain D. J. Shaw, the owner of tho vessel, left her at Gisborne, having not quite recovered from an accident he had sustained some time previously, and came on to Auckland again, intending to await the vessel’s arrival here. Captain Shaw for a time was master of the Northern Steamship

Company’s Torranora, plying from Auckland to Opotiki. Captain Simon McKenzie was*very well known in Auckland, he having sailed in and out of the port for a number of years, and had the reputation of being a careful and skilful seaman. The other members of the crew, witli the exception of Malone and the man shipped at Gisborne, joined the vessel at Sydnoy and Newcastle. Malone leaves a widowed mother in Auckland. The vessel was insured in one of the local offices for JE3OO.

SPORTING. Much interest will be centred in the Takapuna Jockey Club’s winter meeting next week. Seeing that such excellent acceptances have been received, and so many of the horses are engaged at tho Auckland Racing Club’s National meeting coming so soon after, a splendid meeting is promised. . Judging from present indications it will be time enough next week to give my selections for the different events. The tracks at Ellerslie are in good condition, and some sound work has been recorded there during the week. St. Ursula, Laetitia, The Needle, Zealous, Formula, Lady Avon, Hastings, Rosella, Honesty, Balbirnie, and Go-it-sir are some of those that have been showing good form. Firefly, who had been going particularly well, burst a blood vessel while galloping on Thursday in company with Zealous and The Needle, and has been eased oft’. She, however, did useful work this morning. Dayntree, who has been going very short, is on the mend. Solo is still rather sore as a result of over-reach-ing when he ran at the A.R.C, autumn meeting, but will likely, be seen out next week at Takapuna. A lot of jumping has been done by Cannongate, Lieutenant, Nor’-west, and Hairtrigger.