FOUL PLAY THE CAUSE?

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 40, 27 January 1936, Page 5

FOUL PLAY THE CAUSE?

Speedboat’s Failure to Run in Masport Cup. WELLINGTON BOAT WAS TAMPERED WITH. Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, To-day. Examination of the speed-boat Baby Taubman, which was to have been Wellington’s entrant for the Masport Cup but was prevented from starting by engine trouble, showed that she had been tampered with. On the harbour over the week-end, Baby Taubman did speeds which compare very favourably with those of the winning boat in the contest, Pelorus Jack. Mr. R. Moult, the Baby Taubman’s owner, told a reporter yesterday that before ever the launch left for Picton by the Tamahine gravel was found in her petrol tank and h© was warned by a police officer that he would do well to “sleep on the boat.” The reason, of course, was that betting was heavy on the race by members of the outside public, otherwise in no way concerned with the contest. The friendly warning, however, was treated as a joke. Wires Crossed. The boat was not tried out on the Sound, although Mr Cyril Headland, the Taubman’s engineer, flew across to Blenheim and back to see that all was well. No tost of the engine took place on the holiday until just before the race, when it was found that the engine would fire only on the priming charge. It was not until the boat was banded over to Mr. Head-

land for examination after her return to Wellington that a nut was found blocking the petrol feed. This could not have found its way there under normal circumstances. The magneto wires were also found to have been crossed. It is significant that another entrant for the Masport Cup, Miss Wanganni, also suffered from similar trouble. The owner. Mr. Frank Freeman, of Wanganni, told Mr. Moult.

when they were returning by the steamer, that he was dsigusted with the whole business and considered selling his boat. In a telephone in-

terview with a Press representative last night Mr. Freeman stated that not until his boat was shipped hack to Wanganni on Wednesday would he be able to examine her ami trace the source of the trouble.