THE MISSING LOCH LOMOND.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 316, 1 October 1908, Page 8

THE MISSING LOCH LOMOND.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. The missing Loch Lomond was the subject of a briqf discussion in the House yesterday. Mr. J. Bollard (Eden) asked if anything could be done by tho Government in the matter of sending out a steamer to search for the absent vessel. The Minister for Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar) said tho Hinemoa had been sent to the Snares. It was not, however, the 'habit of the Government to dispatch its steamers for missing vessels, and for the reason they had none available. The lighthouses and their keepers depended upon the two Government steamers,- and one had been engaged on urgent cable work lately.. Up to the .present the Union Company had instructed all its vessels to zig-zag into port, with tho hope of coming ncross the Loch Lomond. This week a steamer had been dispatched to the Auckland Islands. A vessel from Adelaido to Westport was also zig-zagging across. The Minister, however, thought, with regret, that tliero was small chance of finding the absentee. After the recent heavy woather, ho could only imagine, as a seaman, that the weak spot in the vessel had been discovered, and. that she had foundered. Tho Prime Minister said that up to tho present everything possible had been dono to ascertain if tho Loch Lomond was afloat. Tho only place, ho understood, where she could be —and tho chanco was a remote onewas at the Auckland Islands. That chance was dependent upon the vessel having been dismasted and having drifted there; . the Islands were out of the direct track of a vessel coming from Newcastle to New Zealand. The request had been made by some of tho relatives of one of tho crew that the Governor should be asked to suggest that tho warship Encounter be sent out at once. He had conveyed that request to tho Governor yesterday. Tho Hinemoa had upon her the responsibility of supplying provisions to tho lighthouses; in some cases the people had been run very close, and if the steamer was taken away they might bo put in tho position of having no food. (by telegram—press association.) Dunedin, September 30. The Wanaka sailed at 7 o'clock this morning for tho Auckland Islands in search of tho Loch Lomond.