MISSING CUTTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22991, 19 March 1938, Page 12

MISSING CUTTER

OVERDUE AFTER STORM FIJIAN BANANA VESSEL; [FROM OUR OWN SUVA. March Ift Although it was thought that £he heavy gales on February 25 and .'26 had not resulted in any loss of life, it is now feared that a native cutter has foundered with all hands. The auxiliary cutter Tui Savu Savu left Suva on February 25 with a native captain and crew bound for the island of Gau to load banauas for the Aorangi leavinc Suva on March 3. The vessel has not reported at Gau, which is only 70 miles from Suva, and has not been heard of since. At 12.30 on February 26 the cutter was sighted off Naselai. An hour later there was a very heavy squall in that vicinity ai\d there was no further sign of the vessel. It was thought that the cutter had probably been blown out to sea, but no Word of her was received from any of the outlying islands.,. At the island of Kandavu a tin, of biscuits, a lantern, v a boot and empty drum were washed ashore, but i;t is not known if these art) from the missing vessel. The cutter carried on board a number of empty banana esses and if she capsized it is thought that these would have washed ashore ajj some of the islands in the vicinity, of the spot where she'was last seen. A report was received from Sigatoka,, on the main island of Viti Levu, that the cutter had put injtherc. but no confirmation of this v report has been received . ' r In addition to a native crew of four a half-caste overseer, in charge of the loading of the bananas, was also "on board. The cutter was built and is of 14.26 tons register. loft, in length and with a depth of She is; fitted with a semi-diesel auxiliary engine.