THE DRIFTING HAWEA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 426, 20 August 1908, Page 2

THE DRIFTING HAWEA.

Sydney, August 17. The boat from the Hawea ha; landed on the South Solitary Is laud, near the Clarence river. Thi island is uot connected by tele graph, but the signals state thal the boat in charge of the chie: officer, left the Hawea on Augus 10, in latitude 29.15 south anc longitude 154.57 east. The captain requested imtnediati assistance, as he feared the vesse would drift on the reefs northwarc of Lord Howe Island. The chie officer states that the vessel’s post tion as to the longitude would pro bably be effected by the receu southward gales. The occupants of the boa lauded in a greatly exhausted con dition. The Hawea’s boat container Chief Officer Irwin, Third Engi neer Ritson, and a seaman namec Pascoe. According to the positioi given by Irwin it appears that th< Hawea was less than a hundrec miles from the mainland dueeas of Byron Bay when the boat left The recent gales have doubtles driven her many miles seaward. The opinion is entertained hen that the Hawea has already beet picked up.

Auckland, August 13. The Moana arrived from Sydney early this morning. She made a fruitless search for the steamer Hawea, which Captain Newton believes has drifted north between Lord Howe Island and Elizabeth Reef or between Elizabeth Reef and Middleton Reef. The Moana had strong easterly winds in the locality of Lord Howe Island. Sydney, Later. Mr Irwin (chief officer of the boat which has landed) relates that after leaving Newcastle the Hawea met heavy, south-east weather and high seas. At 5.45 on the morning of the 30th, th« shaft was car ried away, and it was impossible to effect repairs. An endeavour was made to sail the ship without avail, although in the heavy, easterly sea the vessel behaved splendidly. After sending the boat to Lord Howe Island to seek assistance and make the demand on the provisions lighter, the Hawea drifted"* westward and northward through a continuous easterly and southeasterly gale. When the vessel was 83 miles south-east of Cape Byron, the second boat was despatched. When it left the Hawea the weather was fine, and they expected to reach the mainland the following morning. At 10 o’clock the same night the wind freshened from the eastward, and a heavy sea got up which threatened to swamp the boat. They put out the sea anchor and used an oil bag. The wind increased to a strong gale, with a/ high sea, and they covered forepart of the boat with canvas, strengthening it with the boat’s bottom boards. Notwithstanding this they were kept at it continually bailing, and never expected to live through it. They were unable to sleep, and the food supplies just sufficed till they landed. The gale lasted 40 hours. They sighted laud on Monday morning, and reached the shore half perished. The Tofu leaves to-night to search for the Hawea.

The tug Advance has also been despatched.