THE OVERDUE WARATAH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 66

THE OVERDUE WARATAH.

FRUITLESS SEARCHING Nothing- further has been ascertained dm ing- the week as t« tlw fate •£ the

Lund's Blue Anchor liner Waratah,' from Australia to London, having on board 1 about 500 ' souls. Sh© eall»d at Durban, and after discharging cargo and taking on board bunker coal, left for Capetown, and has net since been heard of. It was reported that a Blue Ajichor liner had been seen off the coast, but this report proved incorrect. The Pandora returned to Durban after a search in which 250 square miles were covered, but saw no t-race of the missing steamer. Tho cruiser Forte, after covering 1320 miles, put into Simonstown to roport her non-success. Th. cruiser Hermss is out searching to the soulth-east, and fcha Forte, Geelong, and Pandora -are again out, so that nothing 1 appears to bd left undone. In London a r-einou.r«Tic3> premium of 80 guinea^ was paid, whioh is the highest -ever paid on a vessel of the size of the Waratah. On Saturday 93 guineas premium was paid, the deal being a covering operation. While some underwriters believe the- steamer's propeller and rudder to have been, broken, others of experience have become thoroughly pessimistic, despite the case of the Waikato, which some ten years ago was adrift for a long time.

Tha liner Insiz*va, whit!/! reached Capetown on August 13, reported having passed what appeared to be four bodies off the-Bas-kae River, but the ea.pfain did not deem it desirable "to pick up the bodies, as he had ladies on board. It was also reported Ja>t the same thra that bodies were being washed up at tihs Great Fish.' River funtbear south. The latter report v&s aon proved to be unfounded, while a lug sent out from East London practically proved that the supposed bodies wcire dead skates over- which flocks of birds were hovering. They presented a most deceptive appearance, as they resemibjed tthe bodies of womeen attiired in dressing gowns. Tl» ilarere. whioh ba? arrived a.t _Sy<iney, reports that N she was in" the vicinity of Cape of Good Hope about the same time as the Waratah. Gates raged with great violence, ?ud mou-nitainous seas swept the decks of the Marere."

The owners of the Warataii are quite sanguine as to the safety of tho vessel. They emphasise the fact that other vessels have- been upwards of a fortnight overdue owing to some mishap, but they ta-ve nevertheless reached their destinations. The owners consider that the Wanateh. is drifting, probably towards Australia. In view of the numerous shipping casualties of the South African coast, the South African Union -delegates are consulfcng with the Admiralty with a view to the installation of wireless te'legra<phy along ttte coast. The Cape Government is appointing a Commission to inquire into the possibility of «n arrangement diaaHng with shipping casualties on the coast, with a view to providing reasonable facilities for l^S life and property. The Admiralty will be approached a view to securing tho services of an experienced naval officer to ■assist tile ' Commissaners. On leaving Sydney, the Waratah. in her lower , holds,., carried 1500 tons x>i deadweight, consisting of 1000 tons of lead concentrates, 300 tons of lead, and 200 tons of timber, all consigned to London. Other larae lines of cargo included 700 bales wool, 600 tons oats, 100 tons flour, 129 bales fur skins, 48 pkgs leather. 500 tons tallow. 1520 cases meats, 30 tons furniture, 150 bales cuttings, 40 bales gluepiecee. 3(* bales rags. 3* bales sheepskins, 1050 boxes butter, 3000 crates rabbits, 1000 carcases mutton, and a large quantity of 6undries. Among the passengers from Melbourne for London were Mrs and M Starke, mother and -sister of a well-known barrister : Mrs Wilson, wife of the manager. of the Koyal Bank; Miss Lascelles, daughter of Mr Lascelles, of Derinys, Laecelles, and Co. ; Mr Neil Black, a well-known western district pastoralist; and Mr John Ebsworth, a wellknown Melbourne 6olieitor.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company a steamars Victoria and Britannia . have been sold to an, Italian company. The oorupstnv•has tflaoed two steamers of 7000 tone each in the Bombay service. Only one class of (passengers, payinicr second JOtes, \.M bo carried. The company is seeking t<; .cater for the junior memtoors of tire civil ana military services. " The Cunaird liners, from this month onwards, will land oa<?sen.«reTs and mails at Fidb<niaird (Pembrokeshire), whews the company has secured a controlling interest.