THE SEARCH FOR THE WOOTTEN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 528, 8 June 1909, Page 8

THE SEARCH FOR THE WOOTTEN.

TBRAWHITI RECEIVES £5 AN HOUR.

■ .(BTTEiEa.ttXPK—SEEBS ASSOOUTION.) ' , • •■:■■' Christchuroh, June 7. ' The - Union Company's- tug Tefawhiti, which left ..Wellington''':on Friday afternoon- and zig-zagg6d<lown' : the'coast in search- of the steamer-Woottori,-arrived at Lyttelton- at 7 o'clock; last night; The, tug:left 'Wellington at; the same time: as .the Wootton-was reported at Lyttelton Heads; and consequently it was too late to-recall her. After half an hour S;stay'.iil"pbrt'thb vessel left,on her return to'.Wellington/ Tho services of the tug were 'obtained by -the Kaiapoi Trading Company at £5 an hour.. , .. ■'■■;

The Ter'awliti, which" left Wellington on Friday; afternoon- tOvSearoh.for the disabled steamer. Woottoh, 'and which arrived at Lytteltoh on' , Sunday night, 'returned to Wellington about midday yesterday. When the little steamer cleared Wellington Heads on Friday,evening..she encountered aV howling nor'-wester, and Captain Holmes, believing that the Wootton: would bo- sailing before the gale,' decided to zig-zag to the southeast. This course was followed until about 90 miles south of Pencarrbw, and then, as the wind moderated, a.course wae set towards the coist. couplo of hours later the, vessel ran into a furious southerly,*.and all iday Saturday she. was swept by moun- ■ tainous sods.- For all concerned the vojugo ■was v a most unpleasant one,' and as the gale did not appear to have abated on.Sunday it was- decided;to -head.-•'■for.; Lyttelton, which port Was reached- at, 7 p.m. News of the Wobtton's safe arrival was then heard, and an hour later the-Tefawhiti had put to sea on the return journey Captain Holmes thinks that had an urgent message been dispatched to Wellington from. Lyttbltonimmediately the Wootton was signalled, the Terawbiti might have been communicated with by the signalman at Seatoun..,..,', ..■; .. ,;.. '■'.'; ■• "