AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 17, 20 January 1934, Page 19

AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY

The unsolved tragedy of the sea in respect to the steamer Canastota, of 4904 tons, is recalled by the death of a Northcote octogenarian, Mr. James Lockie, whose son, Mr'.1 Andrew Lockie, then 38' years of age, was master of the vessel, reports the ' Auckland "Star." The steamer came to Sydney direct.from New York, and' loaded there a quantity of general cargo and cases of benzine, consigned to New Yorkl She left port with her cargo space about half, filled, and was to load at Wellington about 250 tons of- general cargo and 60,000 cases of benzine, to be returned to America with that lifted at Sydney. Her complement were all Chinese, except for the officers and engineers. Captain A. Lockie, who joined the Canastota at New York four months previously, was farewelled at Sydney by his father and mother on the departure of the steamer for Wellington on Monday evening, June 13, 1921., Captain Lockie then promised to

send his parents, who remained in Sydney until the; folpwing Thursday, a wireless message either on the Tuesday «vening or on the Wednesday morning. This message,was not received, nor was any trace ever found of the steamer, though a vigilant look-out was kept for any sign of her by other vessels on the route^ and a search made by' the warships Chatham and-Veronica..Other vessels which assisted in the search included the Kekerangii, of which ship John Gall Lockie, a brother of the Canastota's captain, was,. chief engineer; 'the Kawatiri,!and the Waihora.