FEARS OF DISASTER

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 145, 21 June 1913, Page 6

FEARS OF DISASTER

NEW TUG FOR GISBORNE

• WRECKAGE FOUND.

A cable message last Tuesday stated:—"Lloyd's agent at Penzance reports that a. lifebuoy, and piece of a boat, both, marked ' Toanui, Glasgow,' four life-jackets, and" a piece of teak panelling have been found at Saint Just,'6^ miles from Penzance." The Toanui referred to is probably the Gisborne Sheepfarmers' Company's new tug, which was reported a few days ago to have left the Clyde for Gisborne. She was in command of Captain Sewell, of Gisborne, and carried a orew of a dozen men. The Toanui is a well-equipped ocean tug, built by Messrs William Chambers and Co., of Rutherglen, a well-known Clyde firm of light-dratight shipbuilders, and constructed under the personal supervision of Captain W. B. Sewell, the company's marine superintendent, who went Home specially for the purpose. She was' reported to be a first-class Clyde job,

and perfectly well-equipped for &c long voyage to New Zealand. ! The Toanui is a single-screw steel tug, about 90 tons, powerfully i engined, and equipped with modern' i salvage plant. ! Mr de Latour, chairman, of direc- ; tors of the Sheepf aimers' Company, when approached on Tuesday evening, , stated that whilst the news was dis- , quieting, the company was hopeful | that it would get more favorable : information in a few hours. Advice I had been received that there had been j heavy weather on the British coast, ; and that vessels were sheltering. The i company would be fully advised as to ] the situation by its Home corresponi dents. Captain "W. B. Sewell, who is ! bringing out the Toanui, is an experi- ! enced mariner. He figured in the j mishop to the s.s. Pilbarra, of which | vessel he was second officer, when that boat broke her tailshaft off the West Australian coast some ten years ago. He first came to Gisborn© as master of the s.s. Kotere, a vessel purchased by the Gisborno Sheepfarmers' Frozen Meat Co., Ltd., as a cargo steamer for workjng the East Coast ports. On the Kotere being purchased by another shipping company, Captain Sewell was appointed marine superintendent for the company. Captain Sewell is a married man, and his wifeand two little sons reside in Gisborne. As far as is known, he was the only New Zealander aboard. No list of ' the crew is available at Gisborne. j The vessel left Gisborne on 30th May, I and steams at between 10 and 11 I knots.