THE SCOW RONA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 470, 31 March 1909, Page 8

THE SCOW RONA.

COAST SEARCH PARTIES DISPATCHED. Some anxiety is being felt for the safety | of a salvaging party, which left Wellington at 10.30 a.m. on Thursday for tho scone of the'wreck of the Ben Avon, off Capo Palliser. Captain Thorpe, master of the Rona, did not accompany the vessel on this trip. Mr. Charles Weissler, the mate, was in command, and the following were also on board:—Mr. T. Andrews, a married man, whose residence is'in Devon Street, Island Bay; Mr. Barclay, son of Mr. Barclay, Native interpreter, Government Buildings; and Messrs. M'Coy, Perks, and Charles Scboles (the last-named of whom belongs to Wainui-'o-mata). . It was at first reported that there were eight men on board, but this is incorrect. Inspector Ellison telegraphed to Martinborough and Featherston to havo search parties dispatched to the coast to make a search along the beach. These parties went out on Monday, and a report received by the inspector states that thero were no signs of the boat or her crow in Palliser Bay. on Monday night. Mr. S. Newson, one of the syndicate, intends leaving Wellington at 4 o'clock this morning to search along the coast, and expects to find the vessel safely in shelter! •The scow Rona was built about three years ago for Mr. Bartolo Russo,' of Rona Bay, principally for harbour work. She made a trip'up the East Coast to carry timber to Wellington some time ago, but got ashoro and sustained considerable damage. Mr. Russo has'insuranco oh the. Rona to the extent of £250, but values the vessel at £1000. . Mr. A v M. Gow, who has had considerable experience in salvaging wrecked vessels on tho Now Zealand coast, when seen by a Dominion reporter last night, expressed the opinion that the Rona may have made for the nearest shelter, Castlepoint, about 100 miles away. The theory of her sheltering behind the rock in the vicinity of the wreck is not tenable, for on a visit to the scene in comparatively calm weather, seas were breaking over the rock, which really provides no shelter.