THE PERTHSHIRE.

Evening Star, Issue 10933, 16 May 1899, Page 2

THE PERTHSHIRE.

“Anynews concerning the Perthshire?’ has been the almost universal query to-day, without eliciting a reply of a satisfactory character.

Mr W. A. Moore, the local representative of the Shire line, cabled to the former oaptain of the Perthshire yesterday, instructing him to accompany the underwriters’ search expedition. Our Wellington correspondent wires; lo spite of the optimist theories of oxpe* nenced mariners here, the fate of the Perthshire ia a subject of growing anxiety, ihe Hinemoa, which was despatched from Westport yesterday, has been instructed to search the Sounds, the Solandere, and the south-western coast of the South Island.” The New Zealand Shipping Company cabled their Hobart agents to instruct Captain Crowther, of the s.a. Rimutaka, to keep a good look-out for the Perthshire. The Rimutaka left Hobart for Wellington yesterday morning. Taking as his text “ Sorrow on the sea,” the Rev. J. A. Luxford, in the course of a sermon to a large congregation at Invercargill on Sunday night, said : “ You all know what has suggested my subject. The present ia an anxious time, and all through the week our thoughts have been dwelling on those ‘in peril on the sea.’ We have been saying to each other ‘le there any news of the Perthshire V Eighteen days ago she was due in our port from Sydney, but still we scan the sea in vain.... It is not for me to say whose duty it is to take the initiative, but I do, in tho name of Christianity, say that the inaction has been culpable, and it is high time that a steamer was sent purposely to zigzag from here to Sydney and another round our coast to ascertain if the good ship still floats, and rende help to the distressed who have been u o long expected in our port. Who is to bear the cost is not a matter to be considered* Wo talk and sing and boast about our sailors, and, to prove that our expressions are not mere claptrap or cheap reverence, not another hour should pass without an effort being made for the relief of those on board, and to allay, if possible, the speechless agony of friends on shore.”