A MISSING LAUNCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3957, 14 January 1930, Page 61

A MISSING LAUNCH.

LOCATED AT PAGO PAGO. VESSEL TO BE DETAINED. AUCKLAND, January 7. The mystery of the missing Auckland auxiliary cutter Maroro, which disappeared from Auckland waters four months ago, was solved this morning, when advice was received from Pago Pago, in Eastern Samoa, that she had been located there with two men. a woman,, and four children on board. Ostensibly the Maroro left Auckland to cruise in the gulf. The little craft was last seen near Kawau. Then she vanished, and an unavailing search was made until the conclusion was reached that the Maroro had been overwhelmed in a rough sea and had foundered. Those on board are Eugene Fischer, his wife, four children, and G. Walker, aged 20. The first intimation that the missing vessel was safe was a cablegram received this morning by the superintendent of marine at Auckland, who notified the owners of the boat, the Beaver Boat and Engine Company, of Nelson street. In describing the circumstances under which the Maroro left Auckland, one of the principals of the firm (Mr P. Smith, stated that in November last he was approached by Mr Fischer with a view to the latter purchasing the cutter to run hides and skins from the Great Barrier to Auckland. The terms were discussed and agreed to. but Mr Fischer said hat he had not the money at the time to make the purchase. He was selling a large quantity of wool at the next sales, and would th?n have sufficient. In the meantime, a small deposit was made, and he asked to have the boat for a fortnight on trial. This Mr Smith agreed to on condition that the boat did not go outside the gulf, and the Marere left Auckland on November 18. Mr Fischer taking with him his married sister and her husband, Mr and Mrs Walker, ami their four children. When, after several weeks, the Maroro had not been reported, inquiries were made, but she bad not been sighted after leaving Kawau. It was found, nowever, that Fischer had laid in £75 worth of stores and 500 gallons of crude oil for the engine. Such preparations indicated that Mr Fischer intended to make a longer voyage than he had admitted, and Air Smith thought he may have made for Picton. where he claimed to have a cinnibar mine. All coastal vessels and the port authorities were asked to keep a lookout for the missing vessel, but without result. “ I was reluctant to think that the Maroro had gone down, because she was a very good sea boat,” said Mr Smith. “ She is 38 feet long, with a beam of 12 feet, and has a 15 h.p. Alphade crude oil engine. This was only auxiliary, however, the Marere being a cutter-rigged vessel.”

According to himself, Ml Fischer was an experienced yachtsman, and his knowledge satisfied Mr Smith that he w..s fully competent to handle the vessel. “ 1 do not know whether he knew anythin’ about navigation,” said Mr Smith, and as far as I know there were no navigating instruments aboard, although th boat was fully equipped for cruising.” At least two Auckland business houses are as interested as Mr Smith i getting the Maroro back to Auckland, for they have certain bills to present to Mr Fischer for goods supplied. Negotiations have been opened through the United States Consul in Auckland to have the vessel detained at Pago Pago until the position is cleared up. Now that the Maroro has turned up it is realised that a long journey was deliberately planned Presumably the trip of 1580 miles to Pago Pago was made largely under sail, and now that the feat is krown mariners on Auckland waterfront appreciate the fact that it was quite an achievement. During the past couple of months there has been heavy weather in the South Pacific, particularly in the vicinity of the Samoan group. It is possible that a call was made at some island on the way, but so far the exact route that the Maroro took is not known.

DEPARTURE FROM PAGO PAGO

Al t KLAND COMPANY'S DILEMMA. AUCKLAND. January 10. Advice was received by Mr Peter Smith, manager of the Beaver Boat and Engineering Company, to-day, that the cutter Maroro. which disappeared from Auckland on November IS and was reported to have reached Pago Pago, American Samoa, last Sunday, has left that port apparently for Apia. When it arrived at Pago Pago the cutter had on board Eugene Fisher, of Auckland, who was accompanied by his wife and four children and step-son (A. B. Walker). The boat has been claimed by the Beaver Boat Company as the Maroro, and on Thursday the company cabled the Governor at Pago Pago asking if he would hold the vessel until the company sent on its proof of ownership. In reply to this the Governor cabled: “Boat cleared yesterday Apia.’’ In view of this advice Mr Smith was unable to say what action would now be taken to recover the cutter. The police would not undertake to bring the boat back from Pago Pago unless they were indemnified against expense.