DRRDGE OVERDUE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1427, 30 April 1912, Page 5

DRRDGE OVERDUE.

SEARCH BY WARSHIPS.

NEARLY FOUR WEEKS OUT.

By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright.

Sydney, April 20. The cruiser Challenger lias left to search for tho dredgo Manchester, which left Wellington on April i for Sydney. Tho dredgo was sold by tho Lyttelton Harbour Board to the Sydney Harbour Trust.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) Auckland, April 29. The cruisers Encounter and Pioneer leave to-night to assist in the search for the missing dredge Manchester, which is about a fortnight overdue ou the voyage from Wellington to Sydney. SHIPPING CIRCLES ALARMED. PARTICULARS OF THE VESSEL. ChristcHurch, April 29. The long voyage of the dredge Manchester, which lett Lyttelton on April i for Sydney, caused no very marked' anxiety in Lyttelton until during tho last few days, but shipping people frankly admit now that they arc genuinely alarmed. The Manchester was a twin-screw bucket-hopper dredgo of 883 tons register, and was built in 1890 at Renfrew, by Messrs. W. Simmons and Co., builders of the new dredger Canterbury. The Manchester was built for the Manchester Ship Canal Company in 1890, and for somo years she (lid a large amount of-work in the Manchester Canal. About twelve years ago she was acquired by the'Lyttelton Harbour Board, and had a remarkably long and eventful passage out to Lyttelton, numerous breakdowns, and lengthv stoppages for repairs, at Waterford (Ireland), Gibraltar, Malta, Suez, Colombo, and Thursday Island, stretched out her passage to thirteen months, but she finallv reached Lyttelton safely. During her long career in Lyttelton, the Manchester proved herself a splendid dredging machine, and rendered valuable service in deepening tho channel, in tho outer harbour, and the inner harbour basin. Her hull was in exceptionally fine order, when she went through Lloyd's special survey last year. In view of the fact that the new dredgo Canterbury, specially designed and built for the Lyttelton Harbour Board, was arriving at Lyttelton last month, the board disposed of the Manchester to the Sydney Harbour Trust for JI9SOO. Mr. P. N. Christie, engineer to the Trust, came over and took delivery of tlio Manchester in Lyttelton about two months ago. After being docked, and thoroughly overhauled, tho Manchester was got ready for her voyage to Sydney; her heavv machinery above deck was dismantled 'and stored in the hoppers, the doors of wliich were secured and floored over with timber. After taking in -100 tons of bunker coal, and water and supplies, the Manchester left Lvttelton on Thursday, April 4, She called at Wellinston on Good Friday, and after replenishing her coal bunker and water supplies, she left Wellington finallv on Saturday, April G. for Sydney. The vessel had 'sufficient life-saving gear and boats for more than double her crew, and everything was passed bv the fim-ernment inspector before she left Wellington. During the past two weeks, very licavy weather bus nrevailed in the Tasmnn Sea. and tlie dredge would nrobnWy have tn be frecuiently "hove tn." She is twenty-three 'dflvq out from Wellington to-day. The Manchester was fully manned for her passage to Sydney, and carried 25 nersnns, when she left Lyttelton. Tho following is a complete list: Master .Tas. Dnwnie; chief mate, L. Schultz; second mate, A. Baxter; _ chief engineer, J. R'dall; second en"'nepi\ A. .T. Aversj. third engineer, .T. W. Crombio; able seamen. F. Daly, D. flodmrs. G-. TWnn. P. TVonbet. O. Au?ustin, F. W. Christie; ordinary seamen, S. .T. Oilrny, and S. Anderson; t"-e,-i=f>Ts. .T. White. A. TNuw'nil. and P. W. Aldridqre: firemen,

TT. O'NfIJH. .T. flnlbrairh. ,'E. Pffts. C. Hr'-normott. and ft. Lnmlwrt; steward. .T. jr'Oiicen; cook, R. Wnllnce. The chief endneer was accompanied hy Ims wife, Mrs. Sidnll. ivtio was signed on the articles as stewardess. SEARCH VESSELS SAIL.' Auckland, April 29. The warships Encounter and Pioneer sailed this evening *o search missing dredge Manchester. Both vessels will he in constant conuimnication with the Wellington wireless station.