The Overdue Toroa.

Manawatu Herald, 5 September 1903, Page 3

The Overdue Toroa.

INCREASING ANXIETY AS TO HER SAFETY. As day by day passes and still no tidings of the Toros, anxiety as to the schooner’s safety increases, and not a few sea-faring men hold to the belief that some serious mishap has befallen lier. The Toroa left Greymonth for Wanganui with a cargo of a little over 200 tons of coals on Monday, the 10th of August—three weeks ago. About the time of her departure from the West Coast there wag a light northerly wind blowing, under which she could not make much headway. This was followed by a heavy south-east gale, which continued for four or five days. It is possible that the schooner was blown a long way out of her course; and might have drifted 1000 miles during the progress of the gale. In some quarters it is thought that the benzine, which was used for her oil engines, may have exploded and the ship taken fire, but the owners (Msssrs Horsley & Co.), discredit this suggestion, at the engine-room was lined with asbestos and zinc and was fireproof. Others again suggest that tbs vessel has foundered, though they admit there is still a possibility of her safe return to port. On a previous occasion when trading to Fiji, the Toroa was nearly a month overdue, the schooner then having a dead beat back of 8000 miles. She is comparatively a new boat, having been built at Whangaroa between three and four years ago She was well found when she left Greymouth, having about six weeks’ provisions on hoard, and is not likely to have run short of water. Captain Jarman only joined the vessel about six weeks ago, and this was bis second trip on her. He is a married man, and his wife and three children reside in Wanganui. The crew consisted of eight, the captain, we understand, being the only married man on board. Captain Jarman intended giving up his sea-faring life, and this was to have been his last voyage. He had applied for the position of pilot at Fox ton, and it is said that if he was unsuccessful in securing the appointment he intended entering into the flaxmilling business on the West Oaast. The engines of the Toroa were under a competent oil engineer, and the schooner was also provided with a strong lifeboat. • Wo sincerely trust that the fears expressed as to the safety of the vessel will prove to have been unfounded, and that nothing serious has hap pened.