BOYS IN OPEN BOAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19022, 20 May 1925, Page 11

BOYS IN OPEN BOAT.

NIGHT ON RANG ITOTO. ANXIETY OF THEIR PARENTS. Considerable anxiety to their parents was caused by the adventures of three boys who set out from Narrow Neck in a small open boat on Monday morning, and were not seen again by their relatives until about noon yesterday, when they Mere found in another small rowing boat near the Rangitito Wharf. The boys' names are :--John Malcolm, aged 15; Dick Williams, aged 11; and Dolph .Mellows, aged 15. After leaving Narrow Neck the boys set out for Rangitoto Beacon, and spent some time exploring tho island. But as the wind began to rise during the afternoon, they decided that it would not be safe to return on Monday evening, and determined to spend the night on the island. They drew their boat up above high-water m«rk and walked overland to the residence of the caretaker, .Mr. J. W. Pooley. They were given food and clothes and spent the night in an old shed. Yesterday morning they continued their exploration of Rangitoto before attempting to return home.

Owing to the "fresh" in the channel tho parents of the boys felt great anxiety for their safety when they failed to reappear on Monday evening. The Devonport police were notified yesterday morning, and a launch was secured from Auckland. Constable Mallabond and the fathers of two of the boys set out at about 9 o'clock. After a long search round the foreshore of Eangitoto Island they finally located the boys in a small boat near the wharf. They had set out to row round to their own boat in preference to walking overland.