THE ENCOUNTER TO SEARCH

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 18 May 1912, Page 5

THE ENCOUNTER TO SEARCH

WELLINGTON, May 17

It is almost certain that another search will be made for the missing dredge Manchester. The Minister of Marine, Mr G. Laurenson, told a representative of the New Zealand Times that he was hopeful that H.M.S. Encounter, which will leave Auckland for Sydney in a day or two, will go somewhat out of her course to look for the dredge. The Minister said that at his request the Secretai'y for Marine had interviewed Captains Blackburn c, Smith and Post on the subject, and found that though they feared that the Manchester was no longer above water, they believed that there was just a chance that she had become disabled and drifted to the northward. They were in favor of the commander of the Encounter being asked to take a more northerly course than is customary, and his Excellency the Governor would be asked to make representations to the warship's commander with a view' to this being done. The Minister had no doubt that the request would be acceded to. The drift between here and Sydney was ail to the northward, and it was still possible, that the dredge had been carried a long way off the regular course followed by intercolonial vessels.