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Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 248, 19 October 1893, Page 4

The intelligence of the wreck of the fin e new steamship Miowera, the pioneer ship in the Australian-Vancouver mail service, will be received with great regreb by those interested in the welfare and advancement of the colonies. This is the first casualty of the kind that has happened to a steamer directly engaged in ! the Pacific mail service between America and the Australian colonies. Accidents have occurred but never of so serious a nature as in the present) instance, and have consisted chiefly of breakdowns in the machinery department. Many years ago when the 'Frisco mail steamers called at the Fiji group en route to Sydney instead of Auckland as is the practice now, the Bteamor Macgregor, which connected between Auckland and Suva, went on to the rocks ab Fiji. She was floated off, howover, and is now in activo service in the New Caledonia Group. She formerly belonged to the Union Company's fleet. Although the cable message states that the Miowera'a position is dangerous, it cannot be very exposed, as Honolulu liea on the 100 side of the Hawaiian Islands, so that ordinary bad weather will not affect her to any great degree. As fihero are many suitable steamers available it is probable that Messrs Huddart, Parker and Co. will charter another vessel to replace the Miowera, but the unfortunate accident will naturally cause a great deal of inconvenience. The passengers and mails of the Miowera were taken on to San Francisco by the intermediate steamer Australia, and full particulars of the affair will reach Auckland by the Oceanic Company's mailsteamer Maripoaa, duo hero on the 9th of November. The Rev. W. J. Habens, InspectorGeneral of Schools, who has been on an official visib to this district), left by tho steamer Tarawera, for Wellington, this afternoon.