RETURN OF THE HINEMOA.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 22

RETURN OF THE HINEMOA.

NO TRACE OF THE MISSING BOAT. WELLINGTON, January 13. Tho Hinemoa returned with the Arvan's survivors. The search for the missing- boat with its eight occupants proved fruitless, and hope must now bo abandoned. The fire alarm was given at 1.30 a.m. on December 24. The fire had a good hold. The crew worked for nine hours to get the flames under, but the fire spread in all directions, the tallow and flax producing good fuel. The decks burned through, the hatches fell in, and the masts threatened to fall. At 11 a.m. the crew wero driven to the boats, three of which put off. Not long after the masts fell into tho 6ea and the flames spouted high all over the vessel. The weather was fine with a heavy easterly swell. At dark the missing boat had dropped astern and was never seen again. A heavy swell got up, and the second mate's boat also got into difficulties and was nearly swamped, which was doubtless the fate of the missing boat. Christmas Day passed miserably. Constant baling was necessary, but good progress was made and tho survivors were very glad when land was sighted on Boxing Day. None of the survivors saved much, the majority having nothing but the clothes in which they stood.