Did It Drift or Was It Pushed?

Was It Pushed?

After a gay week-end in Suva, what could be nicer than to glide gracefully home to one’s village by punt?

But whose punt?

It’s still only a theory, but Suva authorities are getting more and more intrigued by the monotonous regularity with which small boats, said to have been found adrift, are being brought into the Harbour master’s office on a Monday morning with a claim for a reward.

Owners who have to fork out a reward (10!- if the boat is found inside the harbour, and £1 if found outside), often complain that their craft were securely moored with sturdy ropes, or well-beached, and they cannot fathom how they could drift away, unless given a little help.

It has been suggested that some of the “finders” might have been stuck for a ride home from Suva and “borrowed” a boat, bringing it back on the Monday and claiming the reward.

Although, as assistant har bourmaster Captain P. G.

Hough, commented, many boats are poorly moored by their owners “with something like a bit of string” and that it is no wonder they work free, the regular Monday morning re turn is puzzling.

Authorities have warned that anyone found “borrowing” a boat is liable to a penalty, and the police are studying the situation but the Monday boats are still turning up.