DERELICT HULL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19337, 29 May 1937, Page 5

DERELICT HULL

WASHED UP ON BEACH IDENTITY NOT KNOWN WHANGAREI INQUIRIES (Special to the Herald.) WHANCAREI, tins day. A derelict hull, which is thought to be.that of a large launch, came ashore on the beach in Whananaki inlet early on Thursday morning during a cyclone and was examined yesterday by Constable W. Butler, of Hikurangi, in company with Mr. J. Barrow, who is one of the oldest settlers in the district. The derelict was noticed by Mr. Barrow the previous evening when it was floating in the harbour, and he immediately communicated with Constable Butler. The woodwork is of kauri and is very heavy and the pieces are al>out 40ft. in length. There is every indication that the vessel was no ordinary small launch, but a large craft. The vessel appears to have been submerged for a long time and shows definite signs of having been on fire, the timber being considerably burned. Part of the outside was painted white. The engine has apparently rusted out and so allowed the hull to float.

Constable Butler and Mr. Barrow have gathered all the parts together' that would assist to identify the vessel. Mr. Barrow, who has resided overlooking the sea at Whananaki for many years, is strongly of the opinion that the parts are those of, a large launch and to his knowledge the only vessel that has disappeared during the past 20 years was one owned by a man he believes to be named Walker. This launch left Auckland for Rpssell about eight years ago and called at Tutukaka, where it stayed overnight. After leaving Tutukaka, it was never heard of again.