OVERDUE SCHOONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21167, 27 April 1932, Page 10

OVERDUE SCHOONER.

ARATAPU AT PAPEETE. AN "ALL WELL" MESSAGE. SLOW TRIP FROM RAROTONGA. Word lias reached Auckland from a member of the crew of tho auxiliary schooner Aratapu, which left Rarotonga for rnpeete, Tahiti, on March 22 and was overdue, that the vessel has reached her destination. Mrs. Marden, of Howick, wife of Mr. C. N. Marden, purser on tho vessel, has received a radiogram from her husband at Papeete reading "All well." Two members of the crew left the schooner at Rarotonga, but Mr. Marden continued the voyage. The message does not give any further particulars, but would appear to refer to the vessel and all the members of her crew. Sailing under tho Peruvian flag, the Aratapu left Auckland on February 22 for Ilarotonga as tho first port en route to Tahiti, where, it was understood, she was to engage in the island trade. The vessel reached Rarotonga after encountering stormy weather, being blown. off her course and taking a lone time to cover the 1633 miles. The distance from Rarotonga to Papeete is 650 miles, and given ordinary weather the vessel wag capable of making the passage in seven days, or in a shorter time by using her engines. It is possible that she was again blown off her course, which would account for her prolonged voyage of over a month.