Beachcombers Taken to Task
[Special to “Northern Advocate"] WELLINGTON, This Day.
During the week-end large numbers of Wellington yachtsmen visited the burnt-out hull of the one-time China clipper which was burned on Ward Island last week.
Following their visits, it was discovered. that valuable muntz metal bolts and other fittings had been removed. The matter was repoi’ted to the police, and inquiries' were instituted. A number of yachtsmen were found in possession of some of the missing fittings, and were required to surrender them. Yachtsmen argue that the beaching of the hulk constituted her a derelict, or, at any rate, jetsam, and therefore the ordinary laws of property no longer apply. A Wellington lawyer said that he did not believe this theory. It was more probable she v/ould be classed as a wreck, and would therefore be the property of the Crown, unless her rightful owners could establish their claim to her.
In any case, casual beachcombers would have no right to loot her of any of her parts.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19390531.2.29
Bibliographic details
Northern Advocate, 31 May 1939, Page 4
Word Count
169Beachcombers Taken to Task Northern Advocate, 31 May 1939, Page 4
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