MISHAP TO THE STEAMER MACGREGOR.

Evening Star, Issue 7290, 15 August 1887, Page 2

MISHAP TO THE STEAMER MACGREGOR.

[Special to the Star.] AUCKLAND, August 15. The Gairloch from Waitara, arrived at Onehunga on Saturday night, having made an unsuccessful attempt to tow the s.s. Macgregor (which vessel is disabled) to Onehunga. Captain M'Arthur of the Gairloch states that after leaving Waitara on Friday he saw a vessel under canvas flying signals of distress, and the Gairloch immediately bore down to her. The vessel proved to be the Macgregor, which had carried away her rudder, sternpost, and propeller, and consequently was in a disabled condition. Hawsers were got aboard the Macgregor and she was then taken in tow and brought as far as Woody Head, a distance of forty miles from the Manukau Bar, but owing to the continual sheering about of the Macgregor through having no steering gear, the hawsers were carried away, and the Gairloch had to abandon her task of further towing, as a portion of the broken hawser had fouled one of the Gairloch's propellers, and so partially disabled, that vessel also. This occurred at eleven o'clock on Friday night., The Gairloch then stood by the Macgregor until eleven o'clock on Saturday morning, when ] Captain M'Arthur, finding the Macgregor quite safe under canvas, left her for the Manukau for new hawsers and afresh supply of coal. The Gairloch and St&ffa both left again yesterday morning in Bearch of the Macgregor, but owing to the strong S.E. wind and heavy sea prevailing the Gairloch was unable to take off from the Macgregor her passengers, consequently they.were forced to remain on the disabled steamer. It was believed that the Macgregor would drift up- towards. Kaipara. At an early hour this morning the Gairloch and Staffa returned to the Manukau from their search for the Macgregor, having failed to find her. The Gairloch proceeded as far as the South Head at Kaipara, whilst the Staffa went thirty miles due west from the Manukau, but from neither vessel Was any sign perceived of the disabled steamer.. The Staffa, having taken in a supply of coal, started again this morning to endeavor to pick up the Macgregor. The opinion is held that she drifted north, and, a§ the -wind is blowing from the land, there is every hope that Bhe will be fallen in with. The Rotorua, with the footballers on board, has just (10 a.m.) arrived at the Manukau, but she saw nothing of the Macgregor. Later, The Bteamer Qreti .left Hokianga this morning, and will search for the Macgregor to-night. The Clansman leaves for the North Cape on a similar mission. The s.s. Macgregor had the following passengers : From Wanganui: Miss flylton, Mr Thomas Donovan ; and nine of the Armed Constabulary. The steamer Qhau leaves to night in search of the missing vessel.