THE DREDGE MANCHESTER.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14344, 2 May 1912, Page 7

THE DREDGE MANCHESTER.

THE PAKEHA'S "EXPERIENCES

HEAVY WEATHER IN THE

TASM AX SEA

(special to ■•thi. mrss.*') DUNEDIN, May 1. It is the unanimous opinion en board the steamer Pakcha. which arrived at Port Chalmers 13-dny from London, via Sydney, that the dredge Manchester could, not have survived the wen.her experienced by th,. |%-*;cciui. between Sydney and New Zealand. The Pakeha JpiC /-".Vancy IHSf; 1. r ,,j. )V ~V (i on in , r . day tiie weather came up dirty from the scutii- At noon on Saturday the v.-in a had increased l 0 a south-wev; -_,ale. accompanied by violent -.quails" and a rough ■*-•,*•., winch caused the vessel to labour heavily. On --Sunday the weather moderated a little, but on .Monday tho wind started afresh, and at midnight was blowing at hurricane force. A rooim.-nuoii*, sea -roared through the darkness of the night, ami in order to assure the safety 0 f the vessel the 10,0(J0-ton liner had to be* hove-to until eight o'clock yesterday morning, when she was able to resume her voyage to this port. It is possible, the navigating officer (Mr Gaskell) of the Pakcha states, that the Manchester may have boon further north, aud conscquentlv have escaped tho fury of the winds and seas experienced, by the Pakcha, Im. if the drodg-« was caught in that blow her survival would bo miraculous

j Twenty-seven days have elapsed since tho dredge Manchester started from Wellington on her 1239 mile run to Sydney, and so far no tidings of the I vessel have been received. Tho conI census of nautical opinion seems to bo j that while tho Manchester is very much f overdue, it is yet too early to entertain tho idea that disaster has overtaken tho vessel. During tho past two or threo weeks-, however, all tho steamers running between Australia and New Zealand have experienced very heavy weather in tho Tasman Sea. Being deeply laden with her heavy machinery and a, full supply of bunker coal, the Manchester would be quite unable to make any headway against tbo gales and high seas that have been reported, and there would bo nothing for it but to heavo-to and ride out "iho worst of the storms. Before she left- Lyttelton, tho Manchester was thoroughly overhauled in dock, and was passed by tho Government Inspector as being perfectly seaworthy. lit audition to a double allowance of lifeboats and lifesaving appliances, everything was provided that foresight could suggest, including a. specially constructed seaanchor for uso when, tho vessel was compelled to heavo-to in bad weather. The Manchester has not been seen or spoken by any of tho other vessels crossing the Tasman sen, though tho second officer of tho Wairuna, which .arrived at Lyttelton on Friday, April 19th, from Newcastle, reported that at 2 a.m. on Tuesday, April IGth. when a bout half-wny across to New Zealand a light on some vessel was seen a littlo to tho southward of tho W 7 airuna's course. Tho vessel could not bo seen, but sho may havo been tho Manchester lying hove-to, tho weather being bad nt the time.' Several nautical men consider that tho reason why tho Manchester has .not been sighted in the track of vossels, is probably that while hove-to sho has drifted out of their course. Considerable anxiety is being felt by relatives and friends of members of the dredge's crew at tho non-arrival of iho vessel. Yesterday afternoon a groundless rumour was in circulation in Lyttelton nnd Christchurch that the Manchester*, had arrived at Sydney, but tho holies of thoso interested in tho vessel and her crew, thus raised, wero cruelly dispelled when it was authoritatively stated that no news of tho dredgo had been' received. Although tho wireless message from H.M.S. Challenger received at Sydney on Tuesday, stating that sho had found no tracts of tho dredge, seemed s.mown at- premature, it is satisfactory to know that threo warships, tho Challenger, Encounter, and Pioneer, aro engaged in a systematic search for tho overdue vessel, and it is confidently hoped by many people that- reassuring news will be received during the next few days. Captain James Downie, master of the Manchester,, was for somo years an officer on the Union Company's steamers, and for some months. prior to joining tho dredge was . assistant wharfinger for the company at, Lyttelton. tie first joined the Manchester as mate, but a day or two before leaving Lyttelton took charge of the vessel, in place of Captain J. Stewart (who brought tho new dredgo Canterbury out from Scotland). Mr L. Schultz. mate of the Manchester, camo out to Lyttelton a few months a go. as mate- of tho small steamer John. Mr A. Baxter, second mate, held a similar position on the Canterbury on her fassage out from Renfrew to Lyttelton. Io was a native of Aberdeen. Mr J. Sidali, chief engineer, has had considerable experience on dredges in many parts of tho world. He was in the "service of the Sydney Harbour Trust, and came over to Lyttelton to take charge' of the Manchester's engine-room. Mr Sidali is accompaniedon tho Manchester by his wife. Mr A. J. .Avers, second engineer, is a native of Christ-church. Mr J. T . Crombio, third engineer, camo out to Lyttelton as fourth engineer of the Canterbury,, Ho is a native of Sheer-' ness. Englaud, but was educated in Renfrew, where he served his apprenticeship with Messrs W r . Simons and Co., builders of tbo Canterbury. Two other members of tie Manchester's crew also camo out. in the Canterbury. J. McQueen who was steward of tho latter vessel, joined the Manchester in a j similar capacity. Ho is a nativo of l Wick, and is a noted hockey player in Scotland. D. Rogers, one of the ablo I seamen of the Manchester, who acted iin that capacity on the Canterbury, is j a native of Scotland. Ordinary* sea- ! mnn S. J. Gilray is a son of Mr S. j Gilray, of Lyttelton.