ANOTHER MISSING BOAT TURNED UP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6394, 16 May 1882, Page 5

ANOTHER MISSING BOAT TURNED UP.

The rumour which was circulated on. Sunday morning to the effect tbat a boat, containing two ladies arid gentlemen, had gone out on Satuiday, and had not returned (and which was contradicted in the evening), was found yesterday morning to be, if not absolutely correct, pretty well founded. The • facts of the case are that a party, of young gentlemen —Messrs. Schtnitt, MacCormick (2), Burton—and a young lady had .gone down- on Saturday morning to the island of Motutapu for the purpose of making arrangements for a, shooting excursion. They got down to the island all right about the middle of: the day, but the wind freshened to such a degree that Mr. Reid, the proprietor of the island; considered their venturing ; out unsafe, and prevailed upon the party to remain until the Sunday morning. Knowing how anxious their friends would be at home, it was with much reluctance that .they consented to remain. On Sunday morning the weather was still rough and squally, but the . excursionists determined, notwithstanding, to stay no longer, and a start was made' early in the forenoon, and shortly after leaving a heavy squall came down, and the boat had to be taken to the lee of Rangitoto. Whenthesquall passed, over they again "set sail, but. when they had got considerably away from land, another squall came down so suddenly and with such force that the main sheet was carried away, and the boat almost swamped. The perilous position of the boat was witnessed by some persons on the cliffs at Kohimarama, who, seeing the sail so suddenly and mysteriously disappear, concluded that the squall had_ struck it, and that the boat had gone down ■with all its occupants. But for the presence ef mind of the youths it doubtless wonld have been destroyed and all on board drowned. Everything was at once let loose, the mast taken down immediately, and they at once started to pull te Tamakißay. It was with the greatest difficulty, that it was reached, for both wind and tide Were unfavourable, and the youths who \vere pulling vrere perfectly exhausted, and'had to lie down and rest immediately they had landed, while the young lady and the younger MacCormick (who is quite a child) started on foot overland for Auckland, where they arrived about 10 o'clock on Sunday evening, having traversed a distance of twelve miles. The others arrived shortly afterwards, thoroughly tired out and footsore, much to the relief of their friends, who had experienced the utmost anxiety during the Saturday night and Sunday. The boat was brought up from Tamaki Bay yesterday. : '