THE MISSING DUCO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 208, 7 October 1909, Page 3

THE MISSING DUCO.

SEARCH ARRANGEMENTS. by Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The steamer Gertie and the trainingship Amokura commence their seanli to-morrow for the steamer Dueo, wlikdi left Wellington for the Chatham Islands on. September 7th and has not been seen since. The Amokura will steam about sixty miles in an east-south-easterly direction from Cape Pallisc, then for six hundred miles east-norU-east in direct line. If the search is then unsuccessful she will zig-zag back to t'n New Zealand coast. The Gertie is to proceed in a direct easterly directbu for about sixty miles, then hold away in a straight line to the north-east. She will then approach the track of t'.u Amokura, and the two vessels will thus traverse a triangular course from Ca;ie Palliser.

Mr. Wiiiteford, chief officer of the Government steamer Tutauekai, will epresent the Marine Department aboarJ •the Gertie. H.M.S. Challenger, which is' coming from Auckland to Wellington, is to keep a look : out for the Duco. Mr. Moore, agent for the Shipwreck Re!''.f Society will put aboard the Amokura and Gertie supplies of boots and clothes oad other necessities for the crew of the Duco if found.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VESSEL. TJie Duco was built on the Clyde for Use as a tug-boat in Wellington harbor. She was a vessel of 130 tons gross, but as a great deal of her space, was taken up by machinery, her net register wis only 20 tons. 'Her hull was of Jron, and was constructed on very pret:y lines, which gave the little boat a. yacht-like appearance. She was built by Mackie and Thomson, of Gov in, Glasgow, and her dimensions are as follow:—Length between perpendiculars, 101 ft.; beam, 21ft.; and depth, 10ft. Oi 1., or lift. 9in. moulded. She carries a crew of fifteen all told, and is' insured for £2500. The little vessel is a good sailer, and her skipper (Captain Abram) once stated tihe vessel could live in any weather.