A LAUNCH MISSING.

Thames Star, Volume LXV, Issue 18245, 20 July 1931, Page 2

A LAUNCH MISSING.

FROM CHATHAM ISLAND. TWELVE MEN ABOARD. HEAVY GALE RAGING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 20' The following message has been received from the radio station at Chatham Islands by the 'Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department : ' "The. launch Te Aroha, with 12 men aboard, left Kaingaroa at midday on Friday for Owenga, but ha;iot been sighted since. There av;> a strong north-west wind when the boat left, which gradually increased to gale force and continued throughout the night. North-west and south-west gales have prevailed since then. "1., have spoken to the steamer Cape of Good Hope, which is about 100 miles north-east of Chatham Islands, to keep a look-out for the missing vessel."

ELEVEN MEN ON BOARD. VERY HEAVY SEAS RUNNING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 20 The following message has been received by the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department from the superintendent of ifhe radio station at Chatham Islands: — "The missing launch, Te Aroha, carried 11 men bound for Owenga to attend a football match. The launch was 36ft long. There is a remote possibility she may be able to reach Pitt Island. A launch has been standing by at Owenga to proceed there when the sea moderates. The New Zealand Fisheries' largest launch is also standing by at Kaingaroa to proceed in search, but exceptional gales with heavy seas have prevailed since Friday and the \vind is still of gale force. The master of the S.S. Cape of Good Hope advised yesterday that his ship was too far to westward to be of assistance in the search." The following are the names of those on board: B. Remi, Joseph Paynter, William Paynter, Edward Thompson, Michael Thompson, Waiti Thompson, Bishop Ashton, James Whaitiri, H. Stone, Ririmu Wiki, Taaka Ngaia. All arq residents of Kaingaroa.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. (Special to Press Assn. —By radio, Chatham Islands). WELLINGTON, July 20 The Te Aroha, a cutter rigged luunch, left Kaingaroa at mid-day on Friday for Owenga, 24 miles distant, with 11 men aboard, to play the annual football match. . At the time of departure a northwest Avind was blowing and this increased to gale force two hours later, continuing unabated throughout the night. Until the remainder of the team arrived overland at Owenga the nextday it wa.s not known the launch was overdue. Contininous northwest and westrcly gales have prevailed since Friday, with heavy seas. The launch is still missing, but there is a possibility she has reached Pitt Island and is sheltering. All launches at Owenga are prepared and are standing by for search of Pitt and other outlying islands when the weather moderates. Launches are also manned and standing by at Kaingaroa. The missing men are all fishermen of Kaingaroa. William Paynter and Wirimu Wiki are married, the others being single. It is still hopeful that the launch has been driven to Pitt Island.