The Overdue Waikato.

Manawatu Herald, 22 July 1899, Page 2

The Overdue Waikato.

The New Zealand Com pany's steamer Waikato is now twenty days overdue from London to Porl Chalmers. This is allowing her the longest time she has ever yet occupiec in the voyage. The prevalent feelinp at Dunedin is that the vessel has broken down, and is now probabl) coming on under easy steam. Ever supposing that she has suffered ar irreparable accident to her machinery the Waikato has a considerable spreac of canvas, and with the strong westerly winds prevailing in the Southerr Ocean it is anticipated that she will be able to keep in the track of vessels bound from Capetown to Australasia; — N.Z. Times. The following is an extract from the inst ructions issued to the commanders of all the New Zealand Shipping Com pany's steamers: — "With a view tc minimise as far as possible the dangers of the Southern Ocean, and to provide the greatest chance of assistance in the event of a steamer being disabled, we have agreed with othei steamship companies trading in Australia and New Zealand to adhere as closely as possible to the undernoted routes, which you are hereby instructed to follow as far as practicable. After leaving Capetown, or passing the Cape, all tracks are to converge to 4odeg south and 3odeg east, and thence the following meredians of longitude are to be crossed as follows :—Longitude 4odeg east, latitude 42.30deg south; longitude sodeg east, latitude 45deg south ; longitude 6odeg east, latitude 454odeg south ; longitude 7odeg east, latitude 46.zodeg south ; longitude Bodeg east, latitude 4ydeg south ; longitude godeg east, latitude 47.i5deg south; longitude ioodeg east, latitude 47deg south ; longitude nodeg east, latitude 46. sodeg south; longitude i2odeg east, latitude 46.36deg south ; longitude i3odeg east, latitude 46,20deg south ; from which position vessels' will proceed to destination as most convenient," A quantity ot wreckage has been seen in some of the bays on the Pensinsula. Some hatchways and a box were found in Magnet Bay. The box contained charcoal, and is supposed to have come from a large frozen meat steamer. The New Zealand Shipping Company has asked the Premier to send a Government steamer to search the Snares in case the Waikato has been wrecked there. Mr Hall-Jones, Minister of Marine, replied that the Tutanekai is lindergoing an overhaul, but the Hinemoa will search' the Snares when she visits the South about three weeks hence, unless the company sends the Invercargill or some other boat before them.