WRECK OF A FISHING BOAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9580, 3 August 1894, Page 5

WRECK OF A FISHING BOAT.

LOSS OF LIFE.

(BY TKLKOKAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Thambs, Thursday. The loss of the fishing yacht Lily, owned by Mr. Thorpe, St. Heliers Bay Hotel, Auckland, was reported this morning. It appears that about nine o'clock a party of oystermen, while on their way from Auok laud to the Thames, observed what had the appearance of being the mast of a vessel sticking up out of the water about a mile below Tararu, and a mile and a-half from the shore.' What was evidently a portion of a sail was also notioed flapping just above the water, and ■ feeling sure that some disaster had happened an effort was made to reach tho sunken vessel. Owing, however, to the fierceness of the gale and the roughness of the sea, this was found utterly impossible, and the party thereupon made for the Goods Wharf, and informed the Harbourmaster (Captain Bayldon) of the matter. The latter at once telephoned to Sergeant Gillies, and Constable Bern was despatched to make inquiries, and ascertain whether any craft was missing between here and Tapu, whilst Constable Stapleton instituted inquiries amongst the local fishermen. As a result, it was ascertained that no boat was missing from down the coast, and that although two fishing smacks were out no fears were entertained for their safety, especially as it transpired that on the top of the mast of the sunken vessel was a gold ball and the sails were a tan colour —a circumstance which does not in any way connect the vessel with the Thames craft. A search party consisting of Messrs. Rolton Brothers and others went out, but in consequence of the roughness of the weather it was a couple of hours before they succeeded in reaching the sunken ves«el. They returned to Tararu about two o'clock, when it transpired that the sunken vessel was the Lily, which is well known at the Thames, having been engaged in the fishing industry here for some time. About a couple of months ago, however, Messrs. Thorpe (2), who belong to Wairoa Sooth, took her to Auckland for the purpose of getting the house removed from the deck, finding it inconvenient for the purposes of the trade. Id is not known who was on board at the time of the disaster, the only information received being that the Lily was owned by Mr. Thorpe, of St. Heliers Bay Hotel, Auckland, and that she was engaged in the fishing trade for Mr. Sanford of that city. Those on board must have perished, as the sunken vessel is over a mile away from land, and no trace of any survivors could be found. The police authorities in Auckland have been communicated with by Sergeant Gillies with a view to ascertaining the names of those who were on board the vessel, bub so for no reply has been received.