Missing Ship At Noumea?

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1948, Page 4

Missing Ship At Noumea?

SYDNEY, Wed. (1 p.m.)—The authorities in Noumea ate holding the 33ft ketch Avalon, whii.h they say is the Australian vessel Taipan, which was posted missing by ihe Customs Department in Brisbane after she had left there without a clearance on February 3. She then had 10 men aboard. The Taipan was bought by a syndicate from the Disposals Commission in Perth late last year for £SOOO. It is alleged that two members of the syndicate were for selling the craft and the others wished to take her to the islands for trade and pearl fishing. The vessel sailed for an undisclosed destination, leaving the two members of the syndicate behind. She was commanded by Mr J. R. Neill, of Melbourne. ANONYMOUS CALLS Last week relatives of the crew members received anonymous telephone calls assuring them that the vessel was sale. The Avalon reached Noumea 11 days ago with 10 men aboard, and without papers. At the request of the French port authorities, the Australian Consul in ! Noumea (Mr H. Barnet) cabled the •Australian authorities for full details of the vessel and copies of her papers, i The Avalon’s crew deny that their vessel is the Taipan, but some crew members are alleged to have told local residents that they changed the ketch’s name “because of the bad luck they had while sailing as the Taipan.” Today’s Sydney Daily Telegraph carries a photograph of the Avalon at Noumea.