THE CONSTANCE CRAIG.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 197, 19 August 1907, Page 5

THE CONSTANCE CRAIG.

MORE WRECKAGE-JFOUNIS. "' STKAMERS tN SEARCH. The master of the.steamer Kawau reports that he was informed at Pakiri on' Saturday last that the natives had discovered a quantity of-wreckage on the beach which had no doubt come on shore from the Constance Ciaig. The wreckage included nameboard of the vessel, with Margarita on ojie side and Constance Craig on the. other. There was also a portion of a companion top, legs of a table and a boat's paddle, besides small pieces of wood, The natives said the name board was attached to a large piece of wood, and that they had pulled off the board.

Sir Gallagher, master of one of the fishing boats, reports that about a week ago Mr Bramley, of Port Charles, picked up some match-lined timber, painted 'in light blue, and two photographs. They appeared to have- been in the water a long time, the photographs being soaked. The Devonport Ferry Company's steamer Pelican left Auckland last nightj with instructions to search the Hen and Chickens for any of the crew or wreckage. The steamer was to coal at Whangarei to-day and she will return to that place and report direct to Auckland should she discover anything indicating the fate of the missing vessel and her crew- It is probable that the Pelican will also search the Poor Knights. Should her, search prove unsuccessful, the Pelican will proceed on to Mangonui, thus picking up her ordinary running. It was understood that the Northern Company's steamer Ngatiawa would search the Mercuries on her way up from Mercury Bay to Auckland on Saturdaylast, but on the arrival of the vessel at Auckland it was found that those on board knew nothing about the uneasiness regarding the fate of the: vessel. The local office of the Northern Company, and also the Collector 1 of" Customs, telegraphed to Captain P. A. Stein, the master of the Ngatiawa, instructing him tq search the Mercuries, but the telegrams, were never delivered on board the Ngatiawa. They were received at the company's office at Mercury Bay, but the official responsible for their,delivery forgot all about them until after the steamer Had sailed.

The s.s. Chelmsford, which leaves for Ms_ncury Bay iowiigh.t, will .make, a' search of the Mercuries to-morrow.

STATEMENT BY CAPTAIN STEIN.

Captain P. A. Stein, of the Northern Company's steamer Ngatiawa, who has a son on board the Contsance Craig, __t formed a " Star" reporter to-day that he wa6 firmly convinced the vessel would turn up all right in the course of. a-few days. Captain Stein, who keeps a diary of the weather, stated that after the bark left Gisborne on the 15th ult. there were four days of south west winds which would take her up to the North Cape. It would be impossible for her to get in among the islands with that wind. On the fifth day the wind,.w«t into the north east, which would take* her to the other side joi the island, and then southerly winds followed her to Hokianga, where she was reported on July 26. From that day up to August; j 7 the winds were south-south-east to east,. varying -from strong, breezes, tdj gales. They would set the vessel about 700 OT 800 miles off. the"NeW Zealand coast, and "she was a vessel that would; drift a lot, being of shallow draught,' with a flat bottom. Some four or five days of this westerly weather should bring her back to the coast again,-and the captain is in hopes Of seeing the vessel safely at Hokianga yet. The s.s. Ghelmsfordi which is to search' the Mercuries to-morrow, will niake a thorough ,examination of the Barrier, when she calls there Wednesday.: Mr. Bridger, the mate of the Constance Craig, who left the vessel at Gisbpme: to sit for examination, intending to fe-! join her at Hokianga, is proceeding to the Barrier by the Chelinsford on behalf of the owners. .",•."•"'