BACK FROM THE CHATHAMS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1406, 4 April 1912, Page 6

BACK FROM THE CHATHAMS.

\ HIMITAXGI IN POET. Tho s.s. Himitangi, belonging to the Chatham Islands Fishing Company, arrived nt Wellington from Wa'itnngi, Chatham Islands, at 8 a.m. yesterday. lho little vessel is not much tho worse for her 45 days' sojourn on the beach at the Chathams. The only damago she sustained was a twisted rudder, and a pnrt of the keel underneath the engine-room was. bent a little- In addition some nvets in the hull of the vessel will have to be renewed. The Himitangi went up on the Patent Slip soon after arrival, and it is expected that repairs will l>e completed towards the end of next week. When seen yesterday by a Dominion reporter, Captain Cowan, 'master of the Himitangi, said, "I have nothing to say about anything. The vessel is here iii Wellington and practically undamaged, and that is all I can sav."

It will be remembered that on February 2G of this year some little anxiety was caused owing to the fact that tho 'nimitangi was 21! days out on the round trip from Lyttolton to the Chathams. On February 27 it was decided to despatch two steamers in search of her, although old seafaring men in Wellington held the opinion that the vessel was not lost, but must bo on the beach. Subsequent events proved this to be correct, and she was towed off by tho sieamer Gertie.

On arrival at Wellington yesterday, some trouble occurred in connection with tho payment of wages to some members of tho Himitangi's crew. Some of tho liien refused to accept (heir wages, and would not sign off -tlio vessel's articles. It is understood that the men in question left tho ship nt tho Chathams shortly after she went aground ami refused To join, her again As a matter of fact, thev did not coniG back in the Himitangi but camp ~p as. passengers by the Gertie. Ihe crew-ot. the Himitangi was composed of volunteers, together with ono or two men and tho officers, and even Jlr. Walker, Lloyd's surveyor, was signed on as extra engineer. It is understood that m\ e 'V?, ,)C "Ration over the affair. the Collector of Customs at Wellington has been instructed by tho Marine Department to make the necessary arrangements for a magisterial inquiry.