A Supposed Yachting Disaster.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 550, 30 December 1890, Page 2

A Supposed Yachting Disaster.

SIX WELL-KNOWN AUCKLANDERS MISSING. A SON OF MR W. L. REES. M.fl.R., AMONGST THE NUMBER. (special to ths staxtmjuo.J Auckland, lut night. There ie at the present time every reaaon to believe that a terrible yachting calamity has occurred. The yacht Venice, a boat of three or font tons, is missing with her er ,j w of six young men, all well known in Auckland. She left harbor on Christmas morning, bound on a pleasure trip to Mahurangi, and it was the intention of those on board to return on Sunday night, as all required to be at business this morning. The party consistedv of Fred Upgill, of the Sugar Company; Arthur Halyday, son of Mr Halyday, cabinetmaker of Bbortland street; T. Gould, employed in the Victorian Mutual; Herbert Gould, employed in the National Bank; Edward Bees, son of Mr W. L Rees, M.H.8., also employed in one of the city Banks; and Tracey Morsely, an employee, in the Supreme Court, Auckland. They are all well known cricketers, except Upgill, who is however, a prominent athlete, and was married several months ago to Mies Halyday, It is known that the Venice was at Mahurangi till yesterday morning, and at 5 o’oloek she l-*ft, bound for Auckland, She had the wind behind her, and the trip should not have taken more thin three hour,. The yacht has, however, not been seen or heard of since, and as none of those on board wer. good yachtsmen the gravest fears are entertained fin her safety It has been blowing a very heavy north-easterly gale .inoe Saturday, and larger yachts which .ailed over the same journey later In the day say they had to lower everything because of the fierceness of the squalls. The steamer Awhina has been chartered to go out in search, but there seems very little prospect of the party turning up safely, The weather ha, been much calmer to-day, and they cou d have got up without difficulty, One of the party, too, has the key of the bank safe in hi, pooket, and he would have got back If it were poesible. Waiwera and Tirltiri ha, been oommunicated with; but without euooe,,, and the nly hope now is that they might have been dismantled or have carried away ,ome of 'heir gear and been ca>rM to Kaweu. The affair has caused great excitement, Another boat Capslz-d near Motu'apo, and the foot lade who were the occupants were found clinging to the mast, and taken ashore,