ILL-FATED SCHOONER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 152, 30 June 1932, Page 9

ILL-FATED SCHOONER

THREE PARTNERS DEAD VESSEL RUNS ON A REEF END OF PEARLING VENTURE Extraordinary misfortune has followed the adventures of the auxiliary schooner Navanora, which left Auckland two years ago to engage in the pearl-fishing industry in the New Hebrides, states the New Zealand Herald. According to a report brought to Auckland by the Melanesian Mission steamer Southern Cross on Saturday, a part-owner in tho vessel. Mr

N. M. Sarich, died recently in the islands. He is t\e third partner in thft vessel to moot his death within 18 months, the others being the late Mr C. A. Cowan aud the Into Captain F. C. Townsend.

To add to the schooner’s ill-fated ownership, the Southern Cross reports that her rudder and a portion of her keel were torn away when she was negotiating a coral reef at tho Reef Islands. The only surviving partner, Mr J. O’Neill, of Auckland, is now in the islands hoping to sail the vessel to the Solomons and offer her for sale.

The Navanora, formerly named Jho Saucy Kate, was built at Mercury Bay 56 years ago. She was purchased from J. J. Craig, Limited, in 1930, her new owners spending about £l7OO on refitting. She left Auckland on May 10 in that year for Vila, doing the voyage of 1800 miles in 30 days. While in the islands Captain Townsend, the navigator, became ill and returned to Auckland by the Southern Cross. He died soon after landing. Mr Cowan was the next to die. Mr O’Neill, who had also returned to Auckland, then decided to join Mr Sarich in the islands. He left by the Southern Cross in Ap"i! last aud arrived at the Reef Islands in time to hear of Sarich s death. It avns shortly before the Southern Cross reached the Reef Islands that tho Navanora, while being taken through reef, scraped tho coral, which tore away her rudder and damaged her keel. The damage, it is believed, can easily he repaired.