SUPPOSED BOATING FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12699, 31 October 1904, Page 5

SUPPOSED BOATING FATALITY.

BOAT AND CONTENTS WASHED UP. KO TRACE OF THE MISSING PEOPLE. ' [JJT TELEGRAPH,—OWN C'ORHF.SPOXDEN'T,] Whaxoaret, Saturday. J?EPORI' ,; reached here yesterday that a whole family had been drowned off Vvha- . nanaki, but. no details were obtainable in Whangarei, although some natives from Taiharoru, some miles lower down tin? coast, reported to the police that they had picked tip a number of axtscves. including a crate of dead fowls, which had been washed up cm, tho beach. Later on a boat, was reported as washed up bottom uppermost near the same spot. THE BOAT'S DEPARTURE. This morning Mr. Morris, of Whasiuiald. arrived in Whangarei for tho purpose of proceeding to "laiharuru, if necessary, to identify die boot. Mr. Morris states that Mr. Gardiner had been appointed as manager of Mr. Corbeft's Miiiuiwhangata Station, about 10 miles to the north of Whananaki. His family hare been living in Kamo during the winter months, and ho was having them removed to the station. There not being c, dry road tor wheeled traffic, he decided to have bin goods brought over from the nearest railway station „o Whananaki by dray, ar.d to take them tkneo to Mini whangs by boat On Tuesday Mr F. Lee, a former bs.nager of the Mi mi- j witangata Station, and Mr. Fred. Street, i agreed to go with him. airs. Gardiner also insisted on accompanying' them, and Mr. Gardiner made up his mind to take all his goods, including a crate of fowls, at one time. His daughter was left behind at Whananaki, anri he agreed to return with Mr. Lee the nest day in the boat and ride overland with her to the station. MR. MORRIS' WARNINGS. Mr. Morris states thai he -went down to where they were loading the boat, a 16ft punt, and told them that they could not take the goods and ail the people at one time, and offered to launch his big boat •ind take ha.f the things over for them if one of the men would accompany him. This offer was declined, and Mr. " Morris again warned them not to take all the goods, offering to let them put part of them ill hi« shed, but they declined. He then asked them what time they expected to reach the station, it being about four p.m., and Mr. Gardiner said he would get in all right at eight p.m., when ib would be full tide at the creek. When they made a start Mr. Morris said bo could see that none of j them understood much about- boating, and ' cautioned them , against putting up sail, as ' the wind and tide were dead in their teeth. i At- tho same time he said, "You have got too j much cm for the sea outside, you bod better ' help me to launch my boat to take half the i things." They again refused. Mr. Morris was ! on one of the bills at his place shortly after ' five p.m., and saw them heading toward? i Mimiwhangata Point. He thought be saw ! Mrs. Gardiner standing up helping one of j the men to set the sail. The wind was j strong at tho time. I

NO TRACE OF THE PARTY. On Thursday Mr. Morris met a girl com- : iag from Mimnvhiiagata, who informed him that Mrs. Lee, becoming uneasy at the protracted absence of her hasiband. had that morning despatched her overland to Mimiwhangata to learn the cause of hi? not returning as agreed, and that on her arrival she hc.d found the cows uninilked and no signs of anyone being at the station for days, Mr. Morris returned with the girl, and sent word to Mr. J. C. Johnson, J.P., of Whananaki, who notified the police in Hiiitiniiag;. Meanwhile Mr. Morris, went round the beach to see :if there were any signs of the missing peoplo, biro he could not find any trace of them, Mr. Morris does not think that there is a shadow of a doubt that all the unfortunate occupant, of the missing boat are drowned Further information received by Inspector Cull en, from Sergeant Drake, of Whangarei, relative to the missing persons, also gives cause for grave apprehensions regarding the fate of the passengers. The boat, •which was found 30 miles south of Mimiwhangata, contained clothes which have been identified as come belonging to Mr. Gardiner. No trace of the bodies has been discovered. There wero no children on board. i