MISSING YACHT SEEN

Taranaki Daily News, 11 April 1935, Page 7

MISSING YACHT SEEN

TRADING SHIP’S REPORT

LA KORRIGANE IN FIJI GROUP.

PILOTED INTO CORAL ENTRANCE.

BREACH OF QUARANTINE LAWS.

By Telegraph—Press Assn,—Copyright Rec. 9.40 p.m. Suva, April 10. The auxiliary cutter Tui Vunilagi arrived at Suva this afternoon. Captain Smith reported that his cutter was lying at anchor at Moala Island, 110 miles east-south-east of Suva, on Monday when he saw a schooner approaching the entrance under sail. As the anchorage was bad with coral patches and Captain Smith did not wish to foul his own anchors, he proceeded to the entrance in a dinghy and piloted the schooner to the anchorage. He had not boarded the schooner and there was no conversation beyond thanks for pilotage. He observed the name La Korrigane on the stem of two boats in the davits.

Captain Smith left for Suva next morning, passing close to the schooner, on which all appeared well. He observed a bunch of bananas in the rigging, so he presumed the schooner had visited other islands in the Fiji group, or perhaps Tonga. He understood the schooner was bound for Suva.

Perhaps more news will be gathered from a‘ local trading vessel which is due at Suva early. The Korrigane broke the quarantine laws by visiting Moala before entering the port of entry.

The yacht Korrigane’s lifeboat was sighted damaged and drifting by the Aorangi about 500 miles north of Auckland a week ago, and fears were entertained for the safety of the vessel and its owner, the Count de Ganay, of the French armament firm of Schneiders. Several vessels, both northward and southward bound, reported seeing no sign of the yacht, and as a precaution the Government motor-ship Maui Pomare, which is en route to New Zealand from Niue Island, was ordered to keep a look-out for the Korrigane and to investigate the possibility of her being in the Kermadic group. Word of the yacht was awaited by the many friends made in New Zealand by the owner of the yacht, the Count de Ganay, and his wife and the other members of the cruising party.