THE YACHT THIEVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18088, 12 May 1922, Page 4

THE YACHT THIEVES.

WHITIANGA BURGLARY CLUE.

MUCH PROVISIONS STOLEN.

EQUHTED FOR LONG VOYAGE.

There were no developments yesterday concerning the yacht Raata, which was stolen from her anchorage off the Nelson Wharf on. the evening of May 3, arid her crew of three. There were persistent rumours in the city during the afternoon to the effect .that the vessel had been picked up by' H.M. sloop Veronica, but inquiries made at the Central Police Station last evening proved these to bo groundless. Meanwhile the police aie in communication with the warships, and hopes are entertained that the perpetrators of the the ft- _ will be arrested and brought back to New Zealand. The latest information regarding the burglary committed at Jackrnan's store at Whitianga is that a "pinch bar" in tho possession of the police in that district has been identified as belonging to _ the Raata. This, it is contended, establishes that the burglary was the work of the men concerned with the theft of the yacht. If further evidence were required it is supplied by the fact that the goods- stolen from the sto r e comprised such articles as would be in dispensable to men contemplating a long voyage. It is worthy of note that the burglars made off with the whole of the supply of oatmeal in the store, besides considerable quantities of preserved foodstuffs, sych an fruits, jams condensed milk and tinned meat, as well as tins ot biscuits. With a well-stocked larder, and an abundant supply of fresh water and 12 cases of benzine, to bs used should it becofne necessary to work the engine, the little craft is well equipped for a long sea ' The police theory is that the intention of the. thieves is to make for Amcrica or probably South America, and tliey scout tho idea that they will put in at any of the islands in tho Pacific, unless for the purpose of hiding from any vessels on the look-out for »the yacht. On the day following the disappearance of the Raata, a local launch owner, while out for a crui.se on tho harbour, saw tho vacht. and naturally thinking the. owner, •Mr. W. Stan dish, was on board, hailed her, but received no reply. There were three men on board, and in the light of subsequent events, there is every indication' that the theft was pre-arranged. The long flight of the yacht thieves recall.-; the attempt-to escape from justice ma-lc by John Oaffery, master, and Henry Penn, mate of the cutter Sovereitrn of the Seas, after« the murder of a settler named Robert Taylor, at Tryphena. Great Barrier, on June 19, 1886. The two men, accompanied by a woman, sailed in the cutter for Australia, the vessel being vTecked on that coast. They lived for some time in the bush, but were subsequently arrested, and brought back to Auckland, where the extreme penalty of the "law was paid. '• v