RUMOURED BOATING ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9066, 29 May 1888, Page 5

RUMOURED BOATING ACCIDENT.

Ax alarming rumour gained currency yesterday evening, to the effect that an accident to a fishing cutter had occurred off Tiritiri, and that her crow of four men had been drowned. The story was most circumstantial, and described how the Tairua, an oyster cutter belonging to Mr. Wellaby, had capsized of Tiritiri. She had sunk very suddenly, and the crew of four men had been drowned. All this was said to have been seen by the lighthouse-man at Tiritiri, who had at once telephoned to Waiwera. From there a telegram had been sent to Auckland, it was understood, to Mr. Wellaby, the owner of the boat. Upon inquiry being made it turned out that Mr. Wellaby had received no telegram, nor had anyone else that he knew of. He expressed great doubt about the truth of the story, as did also Captain Miller, a copartner in the boat. Various circumstances point to the story being baseless. The boat was a strong, well-found oyster cutter, of 14 tons, and her crew were all experienced sailors, thoroughly acquainted with the boat and the coast. The wind, which was northwest, was entirely in their favour ; and even if the vessel had capsized—a very improbable contingency—the men were all able to swim well, and would have had no difficulty in reaching Tiritiri, especially as they had a dingy with them. The most conclusive disproof of the rumour is that some fishermen who had been fishing about the scene of the supposed accident during the day report having seen no trace of any vessel about the spot. They say the wind was fair, and it was most unlikely that anything had happened to the boat. Mr. Wellaby says the Tairua left here three weeks ago on an oyster cruise with a crew of five men, consisting of Jack Beaton (the captain), James Clare, Pollard, Coster, and Wynn. They were to have gone toWhangamata, where they were to have stayed and sent up their oysters by the steamer Douglas. The vessel never arrived there to Mr. Wellaby's knowledge, and he has received no oysters from her. The last heard of her was at Mahurangi last Sunday week, where she was seen by the captain of the Rose Casey. They told him then that they intended going across to Whangamata. " Since then," said Mr. Wellaby, "We have heard nothing more about her, and I have been making .nquiries from the different coastal steamers for the last week, but could get no information. I fully expected that she would arrive to-day, or at least that she would send up her oysters in time for Tuesday's boat, and I intended reporting her to the Customs as missing. Lately several of the relations of the young fellows on board have been at me asking what had become of the Tairua. It was probably through them that the rumour got about. She was a good strong boat, well found and well manned by a crew who were well used to her. I have no fear of her being lost at all. They have probably got stuck up in some of the harbours at Cape Colville."