BOATING- DISASTER AT AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13889, 29 April 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

BOATING- DISASTER AT AUCKLAND.

FOUR MEN DROWNED,

AUCKLAND, A.pril 3. Five young men left Freeman's Bay early on Monday morning to visit some islands in the gulf, intending to return the samo evening. They have not since been heard of. They left in a small flatbottomed boat. It is feared that, owing to the rough weather, a mishap may have occurred. / Tho missing boat is what is known as a patiki. There .were five persons on board -J. Pilkington and his two sons, W. M'Ancny, and Lionel Skinner.

April 4. The fears entertained for the safety of five men in tho patiki liave proved to bo well justified. The police engaged a launch, and the whole of yesterday was spent in searching tho islands of tho gulf and bays wjiero a boat might take shelter in-.rough weather. No trace, however, of the boating party was discovered.'' A second boat engaged by tho relatives of the -men also made .an extensive /search without, result.

Tho arrival of tho scow Era put an end to all uncertainty as to" ffio fate of tho missing boat and its occupants. The patiki had been picked up by the Era on Wednesday morning outside Tiritiri. Only one of the five men had survived. This was John Pilkington; tho other four, including pilkington's two sons, had perished.

The boat capsized in a squall near Mofu. tapti. The survivor clung to tli 0 drifting hull 'for 47 bout's, during which tinto lie was without food and water.