A FRUITLESS CRUISE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 120, 17 November 1902, Page 5

A FRUITLESS CRUISE.

AUCKLAND, xnis Day. . The schooner Countess of Ranfurly* reported to Cape Maria on Saturday that she had sighted- a raft, and searched Motupie Island, but saw no survivors. The raft sighted was that cast adrift by the survivors brought to town by the Zealandia. H.M.S. Penguin, after landing the survivors from the raft at Auckland on Saturday morning, left again in the afternoon to cruise in search of the missing boat. The wreck of the Elingamite and the tale of suffering related by the survivors from the raft picked up by H.M.S. Penguin bring to mind the fact that in 1888 a good deal of interest was shown by Wellington people in the trials of a lifesaving raft invented by Captain AHman, who was then master of the Union Company's Penguin. The raft was subjected to tfie severest tests, and it was admitted by nautical men to possess all the merits which Captain Allman claimed for it, but owing, we believe, to its cost being somewhat greater than that of another life-saving -raft patented by an American, the latter was adopted by some of the steamship companies. The raft exhibited by Captain Allman was of simple construction, and the inventor claims that if the EKngamite had been supplied with several of the same type there would have been little loss of life, aud an avoidance of much privation by the survivors. The raft consists of a double-bottomed deck with air-tight compartments. On each of these decks are four bulwark pieces on hinges, one at each side and each end, and when the raft is placed upon the water these are raised so as to form a protection against wind and sea. The raft has twenty metal air-tight compartments and four tanks to hold water and food. The contents of each tank can be got at by unscrewing a cap on whichever side of the raft is uppermost. The raft is provided with oars, masts, and sails, and the side bulwarks can be lowered and made to act as centreboards. At the Missions to Seamen last night there was a crowded congregation, when the mtesioaer, Mr. Moore, preached -on

the Elingamite disaster. His text was "And there was no more sea." He said even as the British Government had provided all men in the field with firstaid wallets, which were sewn inside their coats, so it seemed to him that the day had come when hermetically-sealed tin easels, about 4in by 2£in, containing food in tabloid form, should be handed to all passengers (if necessary, at their own expense) aud crews, to be returned on leaving tho ship if not used. The missioner went on to say that one in the hands of those on the raft would have saved the valuable lives taken from us, while food in bulk on a raft or in a boat might be spoilt, as is so often the case, by salt water or by blows in getting the raft over the side of the ship. In reference to fogs, the missioner said he hoped the day was not far distant when the Government would make it compulsory for all masters to stop their crafts during a fog, for even "dead-slow" sometimes meant suffering on rafts and islands.

A. benefit performance on behalf of the sufferers by the wreck is being organised by the lady members of Mr. J. C. Williamson's Musical Comedy Company, now performing at the Opera House. The performance will take the novel form of a cricket match between two teams, "Runaway Girl" and "San Toy," in which t#ey will wear distinguishing costumes. The match will be played on the Wellington College ground on Wednesday afternoon, and other attractions in the way of side-shows" are promised.