THEFT OF A YACHT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3566, 18 July 1922, Page 21

THEFT OF A YACHT.

BRISBANE, July 14. In the yacht Ra-ata case, a statement signed by Mills was produced in court. He stated that he joined the Ra-ata. at Westlake’s invitation, and Smith afterwards joined. The yacht was repainted. After leaving Auckland she went to Whi tianga, in Mercury Bay, where they robbed a store, securing a stock of provisions, clothing, and tobacco. Westlake then told his companions that he had stolen the yacht, and intended to sail for South America anjj engage in fishing. The police gaye evidence that Westlake at first refused to give them a statement, but he afterwardes made verbal statements, taking the whole blame on himself. He added that, if he had not taken the yacht off the New Zealand coast they could not have done anything to him, as he had her leased for two years. On two charges of stealing the yacht and stealing provisions from a store, the men were remanded from Rockhampton to Brisbane, to await the arrival of a New Zealand police escort. Westlake, Mills, and Smith, who were charged at the Rockhampton Court with stealing the yacht Ra-ata, or Oneata, confessed to the theft. Westlake, who was the leader of the exploit, in a statement, said that he had been at sea since the age of 13. Describing the voyage from Auckland, he said that the most thrilling part was a couple of days which were spent on the Great Barrier reefs (running down the length of the Queensland coast). They were in the greatest danger, as they had only to touch and go to the bottom. He kept both his companions on deck for 13 hours in the afternoon and night, tacking about in different directions, and avoiding the reefs. At 2 o’clock in the morning °Mills was exhausted and had to turn in. The others kept on deck until daylight. They had a hurried meal in the cabin, and returned to the deck. Thev passed a reef 20ft astern, and saw another 300 yards to windward. Throughout that day there was nothing but ceaseless watching, and in the afternoon thev just missed striking a reef eight miles in extent. After being 48 hours without sleep, they negotiated the remaining reefs.