THE OVERDUE HIMITANGI.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14289, 27 February 1912, Page 7

THE OVERDUE HIMITANGI.

— •— r— GERTIE AND AMOKURA TO . SEARCH. The anxiety concerning th© steamer Himitangi, which is now 27 days away from Lyttelton on her trip to the Chatham Islands, is increasing, and there aro gcavo fears that the vessel has met with some serious mishap. When the Himitangi left Lyttelton on January 31st, her master, Captain Cowan, calculated on getting back on Monday, February 12th—a fortnight ago. It cannot be denied that the vessel as n&w seriously overdue, but it is hoped that, if Bhe were driven ashore or otherwise disabled at the Chatham Islands, her crew wou.'d have been abiH to land. The owners of the Himitangi are fully alive to the seriousness of the situation, and are taking immediate steps to send a vessel to the Chathams to ascertain what has befallen the overdue vessel. Yesterday morning the local agents of the Himitangi (Messrs Kinsey and Co.) received a telegram from Messrs Levin and Co., of Wellington, stating that the steamer Gertie is leaving Wellington.at 5 p.m. to-day direct for the Chatham Islands, to make a search for the missing Himitangi. Tho Gertie is.a twinso. ew steamer of 269 tons gross register, is owned by Messrs Levin and Co., Ltd., and is commanded by. Captain Rodgflr. The Gertie should reach th© Chathams on Friday. THE CREW. ' The crow of the Himitangi is as follows :—J. C. Cowan, master; A. MaoIntyre, mate; H. Sawyers; 2nd mate; H. Hoblin, G. Adams, J. Radcliffe, Otto Nilsen, R. Watson, A.B.s; A. Fry, ordinary seaman; J. H. Prendeville, chief engineer; T. P. Scanlon, 2nd engineer; M. White, G. Kelly, J. Limeon, firemen; J. White, steward; J. Merritt, cook. THE PASSENGERS. The following passengers were on board when tho vessel left Lyttelton:— Mr and Mrs Blyth, Messrs Hussick, Peed, Parkinson, Hough. J. McLean, Foster, Wheatland, Morr-ss, Regnault, and A. Grace. (PRESS ASSOCIATION TE-EOBAM.) WELLINGTON, February 26 The Minister of Marine has given instructions for the Amokura to proceed direct to the Chathams to search for the Himitangi. She is, however, at present undergoing repairs, and will not be able to get away before Thursday. The Himitangi can rig up canvas in case of a machinery breakdown, so that if her hull ia all right she is amply provisioned.. It is not yet known whether she reached the Chathams on the outward voyage. Among th© passeng?rs are believed to be the son of Mr W. G. Foster, managing director of the company, and Mr John McLean, formerly of Messrs McLean and Archibald, ironmongers, of Wellington, but now owner of a fishin_ station at the" Chathams-. (SPECIAL TO "THE TRESS*'). WELLINGTON, February 26. Mr George Laurenson, M.P., sipeaking as ono who has paid several visits to the Chathams, says that he has no fear for the safety of the lives of those on board the" Himitangi. The worst that could hay© happened, in his opinion, is that tho steamer has broken down or gone ashore.