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Otago Witness, Issue 3293, 25 April 1917, Page 30

A tall, slimly-built Maori youth, 15 years of age by name Tu Taaka, absconded from Burnham Industrial School on Sunday week (says the Chrlstohurch Press). In the Springston district he commandeered a bicycle and rode to Banks Peninsula. In the early hours of Tuesday morning he overhauled two of the oil launches in Akaroa Harbour, his intention being to sail for the North Island, where his people live. His knowledge of oil engines being somewhat meagre, he failed to get the engines going. Thereupon he set adrift one launch, the Wainui, tho property of Mr 0. Pool. He rowed ashore in a dinghy, which ho also left at tho mercy of the tide, and then, in a warm overcoat that he had picked up on board the launch, he made his way to the hill country- The police arrested him at a farm on the Long Bay road. He was brought before the Akaoroa Court on Friday, and wa9 convicted of the theft and ordered to be returned to the Burnham Industrial iSchool. Fortunately, the night £he affair happened was calm, and both tho launoh and the dinghy were recovered unharmed.