OVERDUE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 5

OVERDUE.

ANXIET.Y FOR S.S. HIMITANGI.

SEARCH TO BK MADE.

IBj Telcsraph-Presa Association.)

Christchurch, February 20. Anxiety, concerning tho steamer Himitnngi, which is now 2G days away from Lyttolton on her trip to tho Chatham Islands, is increasing, and there are gravo fears that the vessel has met with some serious mishap. When the lliimtangi left Lytteltou on January 31, her mastei (Captain Cowan; calculated on getlint, back on Monday, February U-a fortnight ago. It cannot bo denied that tlie vessel is- now seriously overdue, but it is hoped that, if she were driven ashore, or otherwise, disabled nt the Chatham Islands, her crew would have been able to land. . . .. This morning tho local agents of the Himitangi (Messrs. Kinsey and Go.) received a telegram from Messrs. Fa'viii and Co., of Wellington, stating that tlio steamer Gertio is leaving Wellington at 5 p.m. to-day direct for tho Chatham Islands, to make a search for the missing llimitangi. . ■ Tho Gertio is a twin-screw steamer ot 269 tons gross register. She is owned by Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., and is commanded by Captain Rodger. The Gertio should reach the Chathams on Thursday. Tlio crow of,the Hiinitangi is as follows: —J. C. Cowan, master; A. Maclntvre, mate; S. Sawyers, second mate; 11. HobJvii, Ct. Adams, J. Kadcliffe, Otto Nielsen, 1!. Watson, A.B.'s; A. Fry, ordinary seaman; J. H. Prenderville, chief engineer; T. P. Seanlon, second engineer; M. White, 0. Carey, and J. Simons, firemen; J. White, steward; C. Merritt, cook. The following passengers wero on board when tho vessel left LytteltouMr. and Mrs. Blythe. Messrs. Hnssiclc, Peed, Parkinson, Hough, J. M'Lean, Foster, Whagland, Hettnault, Mariss, und A. Grate,

. LOCAL OPINION.. According to tho mcssago received from Cbristchureh there appears to be inoro; anxiety felt for the safety ot tho Himitangi .there than there is in shipping circles in Wellington. Many o!Id seafaring men, who know tho Chatliams, ure inclined to think that there should be littlo ground for alarm, because it is on rccord that one of Messrs., Richardson and C'o.'s steamers, when trading between thn Islands and 'Lyttelton, was a full month away on one occasion, bhe had been delayed by heavy westerly wealths a well-known fact that there are times when it is impossible for a vessel to hatog on at anchor anywhere about tho Islands, for the simple reason that they aro so exposed. In that caso vessels generally pi(t out to sea, and safety. Then again, the crew keep watch and watch all tne time, no matter whether the weather to fair or inclined ,to J)o squally. Steam is always kept up, and, on tho iirst appearance of a storm coming up, the engines oro got going, and the steamer's 'Lead turned seawards. ■ It has been stated previously that the ' Hiiuitangi had moro places to call at this trip than usual. Even at Blackhead, on the New Zealand coast, she has been known to remain at anchor for a fortnight, waiting for a favourable opportunity to work cargo, and it is considered likely that such has been the case at tho various ports of call to the Islands this trip. People who are competent to pass anopinion consider that there is no immediate cause for anxiety, at lonst not until the steamer is out a full month.

TWO BOATS TO SEARCH. Having received a number of telegrams from people who havo relatives aboard tho steamer Himitangi, Mr. G. Laurenson yesterday urged the Minister for Marino, to prostrate un immediate search for that vessel. Jtr. Millar replied that the s,s. Gertie, chartered by the owners of • th® Himitangi, would leavo on a search this afternoon: at 5 o'clock. _. The training ship Amokura is being mad© ready for r sca with the utmost possible spaed, and'will leave on the same mission on Thursday afternoon. To-uaj tho captains of both vessels will confer as to tho courscs which they intend taking. : Th 9 Gertie is to go direct from Wellington 'tb tho (Jhathnms. Tho distance trom here is , 480 statute or 416 nautical miles, and it is expected that she will cover the distance in nbout two and a half <lays. llio distance from Lyttelto nis 535 .statute or 460 nautical niilcs. „ ~ It bus been suggested that tho bertie should fro down tho coast as fur as L\ttelton Heads before proceeding on tho search. The,reason for this is clear. lhe Himitangi might turn up at Lyttelton at any lime. Then again the Gertie would be right in the track of tho Himitangi ehould that vessel, be 011 her way back from the Chathains.

"XO FEAR FOR' HER SAFETY." . ■ Speaking as one who has paid several visits to tho Chathams, Mr. Laurcnson ptato3 that he has no fear for the safetl of tho lives of thoso on board the ilimitnngi- The worst that can have happened, in his opinion, is that the steamer may have broken.down or gone ashore. Captain Cowan, of tho Himitangi, wns for some time in tho Canterbury Shipping Company's servico when its .steamers ran to the Chathams, and his first niato (Captain M'lntyro) nlso knows the islands well. At ono period lie was on the schooner Clydo, owned fit the tuno by Mr. John M'Lean (forming M Loan ind Archibald, ironmongers, "Wellington). Mr. M'Lcan was * passenger for , tho Chathams by the Himitangi on her last trip, as was nlso a son of Mr. \Y.J U. poster, of "Wellington, chairman of the company which owns that vessel. The Himitangi can spread a certain amount ot canvas if nccessary, and she earned a quantity of provisions.