THE LOST MATUNGA

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 9

THE LOST MATUNGA

AN OCEAN MYSTERY. The report of the Superintendent of Navigation, who has oonducted an inquiry into the disappearance of the Australian steamer Alatunga, was recently released for publication. The vessel, one of the Burns, Philp Line, left Brisbane on July 27 for Kabaul, whore she was due on August 7, and a' wireless message was received from her saying that sho expected to arrive on her due date. Sinco this mcesago nothing has been heard of her nor of the GO passengers who were on board. In the report it is stated that the message which purported to havo beon sent from the ship, must nave been dispatched when, calculating her speed, she was about 100 miles from Mbaul. Burns, Philp and Co. sent the Alassma from Sydney on August 19' in search of the missing ship, bhe returned on beptoinber 19 after a cruise of 31 «ays, and tho muster reported that he had not seen a sign of tho Matunga. jJther vessels carried on tho search with- ' out result. Among these was tho Morlnda, which should have spoken tho Mntunga near Kabaul. Sho was recalled lrom the search,- having nothing to reConfidential papers of tho Navy concerning tho disappearanco of the vessel, show that complotc efforts were made to obtain tidings of the missing ship. The only tJnng found was a now electric lßht bulb, of tlio kind used on tho Burns, Philp boats. Tho inquiry showed tnat there was no doubt of the stability ot tho Matunga. Tho cargo was well stowed—tho Plimsoll mark being 6in clear. . . The finding ,of tho Superintendent of i Navigation is as follows:—"Having given j tho evidence tlio most careful consideration, I can only find that this ;fino vessel loft Sydney well found, and'equipped' in tho best working order, and that nil life-saving appliances wore in good order. Similarly she left Newcastle, and Brisbane in seaworthy order aud condition, and I can only find that the cause of her disappearance is unknown. I recommend that the definite finding be postponed for throe months, by which timo something dofiuito may be' ascertained, either by hearing of the vessel's capture by tho enemy, or by tho finding of some wreckago, or other trace of tho ship." The report states that there was nothing in the holds of the ship of a dangerous or inflammable character. On deck there was a quantity of benzine safely stowed. In the magazine on the bridgo thero wero four cases of dynamite, carried safely, and so certified by inspectors at Brisbane. There is iio evidence in support of the theory that an infernal machine was on the ship. The loss of tho vessel may have been due to a seismic disturbance, as Eabaul lie's near the branch of tho main volcanic sewer between Japan and New Zealand. The Director of the Sydney Obßorvatory says that the instrument showed an earthquake on August G, probably near Now Guinea, hut it is difficult to conceive that a steamship of tho size of the Matunga could have been destroyed, without leaving a trace, particularly in the coufinod spaco of water within which the vessel was when sho sent outlier wireless message.