THE HIMITANGI.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1912, Page 8

THE HIMITANGI.

SEARCH STEAMER TO BE SENT. In The Post of Friday reference was made to the fact, that nothing had been heard of the Chatham Island Fishing Company's steamer Himitangi since she left Lyttelton on 31st January for the Chatharas. At that time it was thought >that the vessel's delay in returning to Wellington was due to bad weather at the islands, which would prevent ' her '* landing cargo at seven or eight settlements in the group. As, however, she it still away and nothing is known of her whereabouts, it has been decided |tjr the owners to send the coastal • 4 {earner Gertie to search for her in case |jje< is in want of assistance. The first Hjrangement was that the Gertie should *" leave Wellington to-morrow and call at Lyttelton Heads before going out of sight of land, in case the Himitangi had returned to the latter port. It has now been decided to 'send the Gertie direct for the Chathame at 5 o'clock to-morrow afternoon. The trip - to or from the Chathams usually occupies about two days and a-half, and under ordinary circumstances the Himitangi should have made Wellington on the 12th instant. The weaihef at the islands is frequently very boisterous, and there have been •*nany instances of vessels having been jgreatly delayed on the round trip. One ■of the steamers belonging t<> Messrs. • Richardson and Co., of Napier, once • took a whole month to go to the ' Chathams and back. She was detained tat various points through a succession of gales, and it is thought that the . Himitangi is having a similar experience. The Himitangi carried a reserve stock of coal, and even if that has run out she can get another supply at' one or other of the two fishing stations at th* Chathams. Captain Cowan, of the Himitangi, was for some time in the Canterbury Shipping Company's service when its steamers ran to the Chathams, and his first mate (baptain M'lntyre) also knows the islands well. At one period he was on the schooner Clyde, owned at the time by* Mr. John M'Lean (forming' M'Lean and Archibald, ironmongers, Wellington). • Mr. M'JJean was a passenger for the 'Chathams by the Himitangi on her last trip, as was also a son of Mr. W. G. "Foster, of Wellington, chairman of the company which owns that vessel. The Himitangi is a soundly-built 'steamer, and proved a fine seat boat 011* "her trip out to New Zealand from the 'Old Country in charge of Captain R. Fraser, iR.N.R., who was later on masier of the s.s. Janie Seddon. • When she left Lyttelton at the end of last month the Himitangi carried a company of fourteen or fifteen. Her chief engineer is Mr. J. tH. Prenderville, a native of Wellington — formerly in the Union Company's service — and Mr. P. Scanlon, who was formerly with the British-Indian Steam Navigation Company — is second engineer. The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Marine, informed Mr. Foster, chairman of the Chatham Islands' Fishing Company, this morning that he had given instructions that the Government training ship Amokora was to go direct to the Chathams to search for tht> Himitaflgi. Repairs are a+/ present being made to the Amokura, and it is not expected that she can leave until Thursday. ■ The Himitangi can spread canvas it her machinery has- broken down, and can be relied upon to make port under sail if her hull is not,damaged. She is also well supplied with provisions.