MYSTERY OF THE SEA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 52, 1 March 1918, Page 5

MYSTERY OF THE SEA

BENZINE CASE FOUND AT "WAINTJ!

Further light-was thrown-on the-pos-sible identity- of the ill-fated vessel or vessels and" th'efr crews by the discovery on -Monday morning of an empty benzine, case -on the Wainui beach, by •Mr Thos. Adams, reports the. Poverty Bay Herald. The case, which was discovered- a; short distance from the spot where, the wreckage was washed up, was branded•■-'■• .'fGold Crown GasolineStandard .Oil Company,' California." The' case had' the appearance of having been in the water for some time, al-. though there- was no marine growth of any Kind. It is considered that-if the case was on' the ill-fated vessel, it would." greatly assist in eliciting, the necessary information as to the. ship's identity. Captain Renaut left Auckland by the Arahura on Saturday afternoon for the purpose of examining the keel on the beach at Te Araroa, but owing to the bad easterly weather and no launch being able to come out, Captain Renaut was unable to get ashore. He was landed, at Tbkomaru Bay, and proceeded' overland to Te Araroc*. The local Customs officehas wired to Te Araroa inviting Captain Renant to come to 'Gisborne to ihspesct the wreckage on the beaches near Gisborne. In conversation with a shipping man .a reporter was" informed that /th e amount of marine growth did-rnot andi-., cate the length-of time that the wreck-,. age had been in the water. Two pieces might- be in the' water for a similar period, yet one would be heavily covered'' with' barnacles and marine growth arid the other piece have nothing on it. The case found on the beach might have been thrown overboard by a passing steamer, and he did not think any importance--, should be attached to the discovery unless-more cases.of the same kind were found.