TRAWLER OVERDUE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1390, 25 March 1912, Page 6

TRAWLER OVERDUE.

THE ENERGY: SEARCH IN COOK STRAIT. When the steam trawler Energy left port at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning last, it was Iho intention of her master (Captain Ilrown) to return from a trawling cruiso in Cook Strait on Friday morning. On that day, however, the littlo vessel did not show up, ami yesterday morning passed with tho same result. i On account of the heavy south-easterly and northerly gales which have prevailed during (ho last few days, it was thought that tho liny steamer might be in need of somo assistance, and in consequence it was decided to dispatch tho coastal steamer Opaw.i to search. When tho Energy left port it was Cap. lain Hrown's intention to trawl in the vicinity of Kapiti Island, and, as a matter of fact, the Slormbird sighted her (hero, or making in tho direction of Kapiti, during the hours of Wednesday nig.iit and Thursday morning, Tho search vessel Opawa lei't port at 2.H0 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, having on board Captain Thos. Kckford, owner of tho Energy. Sho proceeded up tho coast and steamed right round Kapiti Island, and returned to port at 1.50 a.m. yesterday. On inquiring on board it was found that no sign of tho missing steamer was seen. Inquiries wero also mado on board vessels which arrived in port yesterday, but they had nothing to report. i Asked liwt evening if he had any misgivings regarding tho safety of the little trawler, Captain Eclrford stated that ho was in no way alarmed in regard to (lie Energy's safely, but ho was a little anxious. "When sho left port she had on board coal to last her three weeks. It ia my opinion that she is sheltering in Cloudy 13ay." The Opawa left Wellington for Blenheim at 2 a.m. yesterday, and will keep a good look-out for the missing steamer. J Tho Energy was a wooden steamer of GG J tons gross and 16 tons net register. She was built at Hokianga in 1899, and> hor * dimensions were:—Length, GGft; breadth, J 15.3 ft.; depth, B.lft. Her engines are of L 15 horse-power. On July 2G of last v«ar r sho made her first nppenranco at Welling, ton, having been purobated in Auckland I by Captain Eckford.