A FRUITLESS SEARCH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1433, 7 May 1912, Page 4

A FRUITLESS SEARCH.

6 NO SIGN OF THE MISSING DREDGE. (By Teleiraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, May G. The cruiser Encounter and the cruiser Pioneer returned to port this morning after having conducted a fruitless search for the missing dredge Manchester. Captain Hickey, of the Encounter, this morning said that the Challenger had searched the western portion of the 'l'asman Sea from Sydney. What was more ■probably the area in which tho dredge v;as lost was covered by tho Encounter's search, which made between 92deg. south and 40deg. south. Tho method of procedure adopted by the vessel was to move on lines parallel to the trad© route between Wellington and Sydney. The area was thoroughly covered between the North Capo and Sydney, and the Encounter was in constant communication with merchant ships, which had been instructed to keep a sharp look-out for the Manchester. The Pioneer covered an area to tho northward of tho North Capo and Sydney, but, as was tlie case with the other vessel, saw nothing of the dredge, Captain Hickey states that on rounding Capo Marin van Diemen on the outward voyage a very heavy south-westerly gale was met with, and big seas swept tho decks almost Tho gale increased in violence, and it was sonio time before the weather moderated again. Ho is of opinion that if tlie dredge had been disabled -in such weather thero would he no chance of her remaining afloat. 1 lierG was no possibility of an open beat living in 6iich a sea.