HIMITANGI OVERDUE

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 4

HIMITANGI OVERDUE

TWENTY-SIX DAYS OUT FROM ' CHATHAMS. It is twenty-six days to-day since the Chatham Islands Fishing Company's steamer Himitaugi left Lyttelton' for the Chatham Islands. In the ordinary course of events she should have taken from twelve to fiftecu days on the round trip. iV hi Ist it is considered most probable that the vessel has been delayed' bv heavy goics, some anxiety is being iolt in shipping circles. When she Uit Lyttelton on January 31 (he vessel had a considerable quantity of cargo lo discharge at various lending places at the Islands, and was to have loaded wool and sheep tor the return trip. On several occasions the Chatham Islands mail steamers have been nineteen days on the round trip, heavy gales anil seas preventing them from working cargo at the Islands, but the present trip cf the Hinlitnngi is ono of the longest on record for a steamer. There is litllo fear of her running short of coal, as she carried ' a reserve stock in her holds, and her owners have also a large quantity stored at tho Islands. Whilst it is yet too early for any alarm as to her safety, it is considered that the vessel is much overdue, and it is possible that she may have had a breakdown or a mishap at the Islands. ; The mail steamer from Lyllelton is the only communication between New Zealand and the Chatham Islands, Somo time ago a site was selected for a wireless telegraphy station at the Chathams, and in view of the fact that the steamer engaged in the trade is a small single-screw, and nearly always delayed by bad weather, it is urged Hint the , erection of the station should be pushed on without delay, as it would bring Hie Islands within. easy range of tho Wellington wireless station. Tho Himitangi is a small low-powered vessel of 323 tons. If she does not put in an appearance at Lyttelton during the next two or three days, it is thought that a vessel should be sent to the Chatham Islands to ascertain what hns become, of the steamer. The vessel might have arrived at the southern port last night, but up till 5.30 p.m. (the time at which tho Telegraph Office closed) there was no word of her.