SUPPOSED DROWNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8888, 26 May 1892, Page 5

SUPPOSED DROWNING.

A BOAT MISSING. Y est eh day Constable Collis, in charge of the Devon port Police Station, reported to Inspector Broham that at half-past six o'clock on Tuesday evening, Mr. Thomas LeHuquet, a boatbuilder residing on the Beach Road, Devon port, stated to him that about half-past twelve o'clock on Tuesday a lad about 15 years of ace, accompanied by a girl about the same age, had hired a small boat from him as they proposed going for a pull as far round as Cheltenham Beach. The lad paid for the hire of the boat, before leaving, and as they had not re turned by dark the owner of the boat was afraid that somo mishap had occurred to them. Before leaving they were warned not to go too far off the land, as the boat was only a small one, and the weather was very squally. Mr. John Webster, of the Bank of New Zealand, who was out in his yacht in Rungitoto Channel in the afternoon, saw the' boat, which appeared to be heading for Rangitoto at the time, and that is the last that has been seen or heard of the couple. Mr. Le Huquet took a boat and went over to the saltworks in progress at Rangitoto, thinking that it was possible that they had landed there and could not get back owing to the rough weather, but J on inquiry of the men at work there he learned that nothing had been seen of them. The lad was dressed in a brownish coloured suit of clothes, and wore a white, discoloured, flat straw hat, and had the appearance of a respectable working lad. The girl was dressed all in black. Inquiries have been made by the Auckland police, as it was thought possible the boat might have been brought over to this side of the harbour, but nothing could be learned about, the matter. It is feared that the boat has been capsized and the two young people drowned. No one lias been reported as missing to the police authorities so far, and it is to be hoped that the young couple will turn up safely.