THE MISSING DREDGE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3, 30 April 1912, Page 5

THE MISSING DREDGE.

FURTHER RARTICULA RS. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, April 29. The Manchester was a twin screw bucket hopper dredge of 883 tons register, and was built in 1890 at Renfrew by Messrs W. Sunonds and Co., builders of the new dredge Canterbury. The Manchester was built for the Manchester Ship Canal Company in IS9O, and for some years she did a large amount of work in the M.anchestcr Canal. About twelve years ago

she was acquired by the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and had a remarkably long and eventful passage out to Lyttelton, sustaining ' numerous breakdowns and making lengthy stoppages for repairs at Waterford (Ireland), Gibraltar, Malta, Suez, Colombo and Thursday Island. These stretched out her passage to thirteen months, hut she finally reached Lyttelton safely. During her long career -in Lyttelton the Manchester proved herself a splendid dredging machine, and rendered valuable service in deepening the channel in the outer harbour and the inner harbour basin. Her hull was in exceptionally line order when she wont through Lloyd’s special survey last year. In view of the fact that the now dredge Canterbury, specially designed and built for the Lyttelton Harbour Board, was arriving at-Lyt-telton last month, the Board disposed of the Manchester to the Sydney Harbour Trust for £9BOO. Mr P. L. Christie, engineer to the trust, came over and took delivery of the Manchester in Lyttelton about two months ago. After being docked and thoroughly overhauled, the Manchester was got ready for her voyage to Sydney. Her heavy machinery above deck was dismantled and stored in the hoppers, the doors of which were secured and fioored over with timber. After taking in 100 tons of bunker coal and water supplies, the Manchester left Lyttelton on Thursday, April Ith. She called at Wellington on Good Friday, and after replenishing her coal hunkers and water supplies she left Wellington finally on Saturday, April Gth, for Sydney. The vessel had sufficient life-saving gear and boats for more than double her crow, and everything was passed by the Government inspector before she left Wellington. During the past two weeks very heavy weather has prevailed in the Tasman Sea, and the dredge would probably have to be frequently “hove to.” She is 23 days out from Wellington to-day. The Manchester was fully manned for her passage to Sydney, and carried 25 persons when she left Lyttelton. THE HELP OF WIRELESS. Auckland, April 20. The warships Encounter and Pioneer sailed this evening to search for. the missing dredge Manchester. Both vessels will he in constant communication with the Wellington wireless station.