MESSAGE FROM THE SEA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 May 1925, Page 6

MESSAGE FROM THE SEA.

PICKED UP AT STEWART ISLAND

Dougboy Bay, on th© rugged west coast of Stewart Island, a few miles from Mason’s Bay, lias an interest of its own, both romantic and even dramatic (says the Southland News). It was off here that in February, 1890, occurred the wreck of the barque Emili© wtih tlje loss of nine lives. The wreckage of that ill-fated barque is still be seen piled up on the bach. Doughboy Bay, like Mason’s Bay, is a sort of catchment area for the flotsam an djetsam caught by the warm current from the Californian Coast. The Island fishermen, always seize an opportunity of landing there when rar© occasions offer. Recently two young men, G. and S. Leask, walked over the rugged hills to Doughboy Bay in search of ambergris, and among the various curiosities found cast up on the beach the most notable was a complete spare wheel and tyre from a motor truck. The tyre, a “Goodyear,” was quite new and the tyre fully blown up, which had causedit to float from no one knows where. It would be interesting to know if the same spare wheel came from some Southland vehicle. The rim was painted red.

The Southland News correspondent was also shown a letter found in a bottle some time back cast up amongst the old ships’ wreckage. The message it contained, though slightly discoloured. is still decipherable, and is as follows: “Somewhere on the ocean five days from New Zealand.—Deaf finder, the front. When you find this will you communicate and let me know where it is found ? Address: Trooiier E. F. Skilton, B Squadron, 9th Reinforcements, via G.P.0., Wellington.” No reply has been sent by the finder, as the message had evidently been there a long time. The present address is unknown.

Our correspondent adds: “Perhaps this publicity may be the means of someone identifying the sender, and the original letter is enclosed for your paper’s safe keeping. The date on the message is 15/1/16.”