THE MONOWAI.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 245, 24 October 1901, Page 2

THE MONOWAI.

THE ANXIETY FELT. THEORIES OFFERED. THE SEARCH .BEING MADE. (.Special to Times, i Auckland, last night. Increasing anxiety is felt here regarding the safety of the Union Steamship Company's steamer Monowai, which should have reached Hobart on Friday last. There is no possibility of the vessel having run ashore unless disabled, as there are no islands between the Blau and Hobart, and the Now Zealand coast is cleared directly alter leaving tile Bluff'. There is utt : - likelihood of the Monowai having been in collision with another vessel, as steamers trading on her run are accounted ior. Flic route is little used by sailers. It is therefore concluded that the delay .las been caused by a breakdown. The breaking of the piston rod would not

account for so long a delay, as the Union Company's fleet are nearly all supplied with spare rods. Even if the Monowai were not so supplied, the engines could have been compounded and Hobart reached a day or two late. Neither would the bursting of the boiler account lor the non-arrival of the vessel, as :fit- Monowai has tour of these. Sufficient steam could be kept up in three to maintain the speed a little below full. It is accordingly presumed that either the shaft has broken, or that the cable has slipped. The Monowai carries Thompson's patent coupling, which, in the event of the main-shaft-breaking, is boited round the break, rendering it quite efficient for some time, so that it seems probable that the delay is the result of a break which lias occurred m the hush of the shaft close to the propeller. where it would be impossible to effect- repairs.

Captain Ohatfield, master of the Monowai, is one of tiie best-known oiheials of the Union Company's licet, lie is a skilful, careful mariner, and is so thoroughly acquainted with the intercolonial waters that he was appointed pilot to the Royal yacht Opliir on the occasion of her visit to New Zealand. On the arrival of the Wcstrulia at the Bluff last Tuesday, it was felt sure that some information would be brought. The Westralia has reported that she saw no trace of the missing vessel, or indication of anything likely to explain her delay when voyaging from Hobart to New Zealand.

The suspense has become so uncomfortable that the result of the Mokoia'strip from the Bluff, zigzag across, keeping a keen look-out all the while, is anxiouslyawaited, while the Tutanekai is making a search in the neighborhood of the the Southern Isles, and the Corinua, which left Westport on Tuesday, is to make a thorough search on the way across. Some news should soon be known. The s.s. Orowaiti has been sent out.

With tiic experience of the s.s. Perthshire, which was the year before last off days adrift on the trip from Sydney to Auckland, a route covered by considerable more vessels than is the southern run, and of the s.s. Waikato, adrift between the Gape and Australia for nearly three months, still fresh in the minds of shipping men, the difficulty of picking up the drifting vessel is fully recognised, and it is sincerely hoped that if what is generally feared has really happened, the Monowai will be more fortunate than the other vessels. Wellington, last night. Among the passengers on the Monowai are Musgrovc’s Opera Company, numbering 09. Mrs Scddon intended to leave by the Monowai to meet her son, Captain Beddon, who is returning by the Tongariro, but at the last moment her proposed trip was fortunately postponed. NEWS OF STEAMER ANXIOUSLY AWAITED. THE PREMIER’S INSTRUCTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night. In view of the anxiety caused by the overdue Monowai, the Premier lias given instructions that as soon as the news is received of the vessel's safe arrival at Hobart, or of her having been picked up by one of the vessels that have boon sent in quest, the Now' Zealand flag will be hoisted on the principal post-offices of the colony. Mr Seddon has further communicated with the Tasmanian Government so that any advice received at Hobart may be at once forwarded to the colony.

LIST OF PASSENGERS. The Monowai’s passengers are :—For Hobart: Mr and Airs Hogg. For Melbourne : Misses McCabe, Cargill, Isaac (I), Hodgkin,son ; Mesdames Goad, Maitland, Mathieson, Do lieer and four children and maid, Chevannes, McGregor and buy; Messrs Harnett, Scoular, He Hoer, Chevannes. Caldwell, Pyle, Hurston (2), Thorpe, Sidey, Musgrovc Opera Company (69), and eight steerage. Mr Pitcaithley was a passenger from Christchurch for Melbourne, and there were possibly other passengers from the Bluff and other ports. Captain Chatfield is the master of the Monowai. The steamer Monowai was built in Glasgow by Messrs Benriy sevon years ago for the Union Steamship Company, The steamer ran in the intercolonial and coastal trade for some time, and was afterwards engaged in the ’Frisco service.