WHAT IS IT?

Northern Advocate, 8 April 1931, Page 8

WHAT IS IT?

LONG, WHITE OBJECT. DISCERNED AMONG BREAKERS. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) DARGAVILLE* This Day. Further information concerning the object, stated to have been the white painted hull of a boat, which was sighted in the breakers on the West Coast, below,Glink's Gorge, on Thursday, reveals that the Harbourmaster, Captain Mitchell, investigated the matter. He discovered the object in the breakers, but the sea was very rough and the visibility poor. The captain states, however, that the object was about 40 feet in length. A number of, residents made a search on Good Friday afternoon, travelling down the beach by car from Dargaville for about 12 miles, but no trace of the object was found. Since the find was first reported, the wind has changed, blowing strongly from a northerly direction. This would have a tendency to blow the object away from the beach. A further search will probably be made. Considerable interest attaches to the find in view of the fact that Mr Hudson’s yacht, which left New Plymouth in February, and also the Wellington yacht Windward on its way from Chatham Islands, have not made port. On the other hand, a launch may have drifted from Hokianga, Kaipara, or Onehunga harbours. In view of the uncertainty over the matter, it has been suggested that it might be advisable for the Government to make a reconnoitre of the coast by aeroplane. A 'plane would get a good taking-oil* j(oint from the beach at Bayly's Gorge, eight miles west of Dargaville, at low water. The beach is quite as wide and as hard as the Ninety-Mile Beach.