THE PILBARRA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1410, 22 March 1905, Page 2

THE PILBARRA.

FURTHER DETAILS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyrfgh! Sydney, March 21.

Details received by Burns, Philp and Co. regarding the etsamer Pilbarra from Noumea show, that the Messageries Maritimes steamer Pacifique has arrived from New Hebrides with Mr Sewell, second officer of the Pilbarra, two passengers, and four seamen. Mr Sewell states that the Pilbarra lost the remainder of the blades of her propeller when 120 miles east of the island of TaDna on the 4th instant.

He left the Pilbarra on the sth in the No. 2 lifeboat with four seamen, having instructions to make for Port Vila, with a view to securing assistance, He arrived at Vila on the 7ch, and chartered a cutter in order to intercept the steamer Induna.

Mr Sewell sailed in the cutter from Vila on the Btb, and reached the island of Erromanga on the 13th. He there found the No. 1 lifeboat of the Pilbarra,.with the chief officer, two seamen, the stewardess, and 19 passengers, principally women and children. The chief officer informed Mr Sewell that the Pilbarra was close in to the southern point of Erromanga and drifting close in-shore at 10 o’clock on the night of the 7th. He again saw her on the morning of the Bth, when five miles westward of Erromanga. , ,

The steamer Induna arrived at Erro- ! manga on the afternoon of the 13th. Mr Sewell delivered to the oaptain a letter of instructions from the agent of Burns, Philp and Co., and in accordance with the orders contained in the letter the Induna sailed for Erromanga the same evening to search for the Pilbarra, taking with her all the Pilbarra’s passengers who landed there except two. -- -.v- - ... - Mr Sewell states there was no hews of the Pilbarra at Tanna or Aneitunn. The oaptain of the Induna stated that if he was not back at Port Vila in time to catch the Pacifique he would probably have found the Pilbarra.

The agents of the Pilbarra are of the [ opinion that the steamer at one time drifted so olosb in on Erromanga that the captain took the opportunity to land the women and children, and that then the wind changed and she drifted away to the westward again. The fact of the Induna not arriving in time to meet tho Pacifique is taken to indicate that she has the Pilbarra in tow, and they expect to hear definitely of her soon. She will probably bo towed to Noumea, or if the weather conditions are more favorable to Suva, where a new propeller will be shipped by tipping the steamer.

Suva, March 21. Sailed, s.s. Moana, for Sydney. She will search for the Pilbarra.

MISSING STEAMEB LAST SEEN IN HEAVY SEA. I By Electric .Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. Received 1.7 a.m., Maroh 22. v Noumea, March 22, When the Pilbarra was last seen a strong wind was blowing with a heavy sea. Those landed at Errowanga proceeded to Dr Bobertson’s Presbyterian mission station. They speak highly of the treatment received.