THE STEAMER PERTHSHIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11058, 9 May 1899, Page 5

THE STEAMER PERTHSHIRE

THE VESSEL STILL MISSING.: : A' NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ON BOARD. ARRIVAL OF THE MOKOIA FROM HOBART. BAD WEATHER REPORTED. The anxiety regarding the missing steamer Perthshire, now nearly 13 days out from Sydney to the BlufE, is increasing nil over the colonies; and fears are expressed that the steamer has met with serious disaster. The tine usually taken on the passage by steamers of the Perthshire class is about five days; and, as the vessel is now eight days overdue, there is grave anxiety regarding her and those km hoard. The course taken is direct from Sydney to Foveaux Straits, and as there are no rocks or land dangers on the route, it is not possible that the steamer has met disaster from that cause. The Perthshire left Sydney for the Blurt en April 26, the steamer Elingamitc leaving Sydney for Auckland the same evening. The latter steamer met with a strong southerly gale from leaving Port Jackson Heads until making the New Zealand coast, the galo being accompanied with a tremendous high sea. The Mararoa, which left Auckland on April 24, met with similar weather on her passage across the Tasman, the sea being described as tremendously high. The Perthshire is an almost similar vessel to the Waimate, at present berthed at the Q.uten-strect Wharf, her tonnage being about 100 less than the Waimato. They wore both built by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie, and Co., of Ncwcastle-on-Tyne. She is a single screw steamer, has two masts, and is square rigged on the foremast; but could not carry sufficient sail to drive her at any great rate of speed; in fact, just about enough to give her steerage way, so that to d. large extent she would, in. case of an accident to her machinery, be at the mercy of the winds and waves, as to tho direction she would take. Even under tha most favourable conditions of wind and weather, the steamer's progress would bo exceedingly slow, ml at the best she would only make from three knots to four knots per hour. If an accident occurred, say, when she was half-way over her journey, she would necessarily have a long distance to cover in her crippled state.

If, os is surmised, (ho propollor has been stripped, or carried away, tho steamer would oi'ly have to depsnd upon what canvas she would be able to set, and, as stated above, that would be of very little use as a motive power to a vessel of such largo proportions as tho Perthshire la tho event of tho steamer having broken down'every attempt would he made to keep ber to tho northward as much as possible, in order to get into the track of passing vessels, for if she drifted to tho southward there would be less likelihood of meeting with assistance There are three chances of the Perthshire being picked up if she is afloat, one being by tho steamers tunning between the Bluff and Hobart; another by the steamers from Wellington to Sydney; and tho third by the steamers from Auckland to Sydney. Tho B.s. Mokoia arrived'at tho Bluff from Hobart yesterday afternoon, and saw nothing of the missing steamer, and reports bad wes-thcr on Ihe pipage. The Waikaro loft Sydney for Wellington on Saturday, and is due at that, port on Thursday, and her vrival will bo looked forward to with groat ii tcrcst, as she may possibly bring tidings of the missing steamer. The Tarawera left Auckland for Sydney last evening, and if the Perthshire has been driven northward, she may pick her up. An idea is prevalent that if at all possible the Perthshire would make for Auckland, as here she could be placed in the Calliope Dock without any cargo being discharged, or the work of the refrigerating machinery king stopped. This, it is thought, would b3 ft great inducement for Auckland to be reached, as no other port in the colony offers the same facilities. It will be remembered that a couple of years ago tho steamer Brteshire, of tho samo lino, met with an accident to her propeller after leaving the South for London, with a full cargo of frozen meat, etc., and her captain passed all the other ports, and came to Auckland, knowing that his vessel could bo floated in and out of Calliope Dock, as she was then loaded, and sufficient water kept in the dock to allow her frozen meat to be kept in good order, whilst 'tho necessary repairs were carried out, and this was accomplished with very littlo delay. [di telegram.— ASSOCIATION.] Invercaroill, Monday. The s.s. Morayshire returned to the Bluff yesterday after a run of 200 miles to tho westward of New Zealand, in search of the overdue '.teamer Perthshire, having seen nothing of her. The weather was bad. The Mokoia arrived this afternoon, and also reports south-west gales and heavy seas on the passage across. The Morayshire sailed for London, after Captain Duncan had conferred with Mr. Moore, the managor for the Shire line. By Telegraph.—Press Assooiatlon.-Copyright. Sydney, May 8. Tho Perthshire has about a dozen passengers, including some ladies and children, the majority being from Brisbano, en route to London.