THE SHIP OAMARU.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 211, 5 September 1892, Page 2

THE SHIP OAMARU.

ANXIETY FOP. HER SAFETY.

According to a cable message from London stating that 25 guineas premium has been paid there to re-insure the ship Oamaru, bound from New Zealand to London, it would seem that there is some anxiety in shipping and insurance circles for the safety of the vessel. The Oatr.aru is a well-known trader to Auckland and other Now Zealand ports under the flag of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, and her sister ship, the Timaru, is nt present lying in Auckland Harbour. The Oamaru is, as far as can be learned, now on her way from Picton to London with a cargo of wool and other New Zealand produce. The exacb date of her departure is not known in xVuckland. The Oamaru was in April last at Picton, where she had arrived from Napier, loading there for London. Assuming that sha left) Picton for London early in May, loaded, she would now be something over four months (120 days) out for tho English port—a long voyage, although longer onea from New Zoaland to London are on record. Tho Oamaru is a fine clipper iron ship of 1,366 tons register, fitted with refrigerating apparatus for the frozen meat trade, and classed 100 Al at. Lloyd's. She waa built on the Clyde by Scotfc and Co., of Greenock, in 1874 (her sister ship the Timaru being built at tho same time) to the order of the Shaw. Savill and Albion Company, ior tho New Zealand trade. She has paid several visits to this port. Capfc. Thomas was in command when the ship left Picton. The Oamaru was one of the first vessels to take a load of frezen meat from New Zealand to London. It is as yet too early to tako it for granted.that she is lost. Vessels frooi tho colonies homeward bound to London this year report having met with immense ice-fielda in the Southern Ocean further North than usual, and one or two very narrow escapes from disaster have been recoived. During tho last four years no less than five line sailing vessels have been totally lost at pea while oc voyage between London and New Zealand. These were : The ship Treveiyan, Captain Roberts, which foundered off the Cape whilo bound from Dunedin in 138S; the ships Danedin and Marlborough, Lyttelton to London (in 1890), of which nothing haa ever been heard : the barque Assays. London to Wellington, lost on the Snares laed year with all hands ; and the barque Melpomene, Wellington to London, burnt at sea over a year ago.