VESSEL MISSING

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1926, Page 1

VESSEL MISSING

believed to be AWARUA. bV TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSN*., OOPi'RIGHT. WELLINGTON, Sept. 15. A small steamer believed to be the Awarua, returning from a visit to Chatham Islands, signalled by morse lamp to tho R.M.S. Makura, when in Cook Strait last night, that she was short of coal and required assistance. The steamer in distress was sighted bw the Makura five miles south of Taurakerore, hut her name could not be ascertained. On receiving a morse message, bho captain of the Makura reported tile matter hy wireless. The Union Company sent the tug Terawliiti out in response to the call, and she left Wellington at 9.50 p.m. After an unsuccessful search tho Terawhiti returned to port at one o’clock this morning and again put out to sea at 8.10 a.m.

About eleven o'clock lost night a message was received from the Cape Palliscr lighthouse stating that a small steamer with one masthead light was to southward of Cape Palliscr sending up distress rockets. The .Marine Department received ladvice that the steamer was last seen about 12.30 a.in. going in an easterly direction. When the vessel was off Cape Palliscr her lights were burning brightly, so ii is considered that her coal supply then was not exhausted completely. The lighthouse gave the Terawhiti the course the small ship was -taking and the tug made in that direction. The lighthouse is keeping Pencarrow reported to-day. Conditions last night and early this morning were the worst he had experienced for some years. Rain squalls were terrific and therewas much vivid lightning. There was a good deal of shipping in the Cook Strait last night and early this morning but, owing to heavy rain squalls, it was not an easy matter to distinguish vessels. Shortly after midnight the keeper at Pencarrow observed lights to the south-east. Heavy rain then came on and the light was not seen again. At midday, to-day the light keeper reported that heavy seas were running nIT Capo Terawhiti, and. except for a number of fishing lionts, lie could pick up no other ships as the Terawhiti had not returned and no further word had been received. The Harbour Board’s new tug Toia, left port to-d .'V at 10.42 o’clock under Captain Spence to make search in the Cook Strait. Tho coastal steamers, Wot ton. from Lyttelton. Kapiti from Wanganui, and Cygnet from Lyttelton and Kaikoura, arrived in port early this morning, hut the crews ol the three ships saw no 'sign of the vessel in distress. The captains of the ferry steamers' Xgaio and Wuhine, which arrived at Wellington this morning, also saw no signs of the disabled ship. When the' Awarua left Wellington sin? was in command of Captain T. Sawyers, who hail with him the following crew: Mate. .1. Steven; chief engineer, C. M. Smith; second engineer, F. R. Taylor; steward. A. Farmer; cook. J. Love; A.B.’s: M. J. O’Leary, .1. Williamson, M. McLeod; firemen: W. Amour. W. Miller, •) Tubor; tislicimeii; S. Nicholson. D. Larwes, G. Scott, M. Millar. B. Naganip. F. K. Mille, and (!. S. Mount.

About midday to-day the Terawhiti sailed inwards past, the Cape Palliscr liubt and reported no sign of the miss’nS ' 4 TUG’S SEARCH FAILS.

After an unsuccessful search in the vicinity of Cook Strait and seaward for the steamer A warua. from Chatham Islands the tug Terawhiti returned to port. Captain Walsh said that after clearing the heads, they ran into _ a moderate uorwest gale, with thic v driving rain, and heavy seas. There was no sight of a steamer and they returned to port. Hope Palliser was reached at 6.45 a.m. to-day, and they signalled the keeper of the light and put ashore the wireless operator, who went on top of the hill to secure a better view. After the Icrawnt, steamed 18 miles south nl t ape 1 allisP| ., meeting no sign of the A warua. she returned to port again. It is hoped the Avarua is under sail proceeding south for Lyttelton.