THE OVERDUE WASP.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 156, 31 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE OVERDUE WASP.

Tho China Mail, of sth October, has the following regarding the ovordue British gunboat Wasp :— " Every day that passes ia adding to the anxiety felt for tho safety of H.M.S. Wasp, which left Johore on tho 10th September for Hong Kong, and has therefore been ont more than twenty-five days. The Cockchafer and tho Firebrand have been sent out from Hong Kong to search for her. A steamer belonging to the Singapore Government also left on tho samo errand. The native authorities here have likewiso requested tho captains of steamers trading between hero and, Manilla to keop a look out tor tho gunboat, and have telegraphed to Saijod and other ports between hero and Singapore

l'ffjiirilinjf her. There was a rumour that tin' Russian transport which passed through the harbour recently had sighted tho Wasp labouring in one of the typhoons that were raping in tho China Sea about two weeks npo, but tho Knsßian veswel made no report on tho matter. The Waap, which is a new vessel on her firat trip, is a composite gunboat of 070 tons, 73 men, and 100 horsp-power, and ii armed with six fine brpeoh-loading guns. She arrived at Singapore from England on tho 18th August lust. Her Majesty's ship Leander returned to port at Hong Kong on 17th October from her cruise in search of the mi-niny gunboat. She reports that cruising among islands of the I'araul Group she fonnd one old wreck of a wooden ship on one ol the islands of the Amphitriti Group, and the wreck of an iron steamer on the north reef. Boats could not board them on account of the surf.