AN OVERDUE AUSTRALIAN LINER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14133, 7 August 1909, Page 5 (Supplement)

AN OVERDUE AUSTRALIAN LINER.

THE LUND'S BLUE ANCHOR LINE S.S. WARATAH, CONSIDERABLY OVERDUE AT CAPETOWN FROM PORT NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA. Some anxiety and uneasiness has been caused at Capetown, owing to the non-arrival of the e.s.- Waratah, which left Port Natal in continuation of her voyage from Sydney to London. on July 26. The Waratali is. the latest addition to the Lund's Blue Anchor fleet, and is a fine twin-screw steamer of 10,000 tons. She left Sydney on June 26, and Melbourne on July 1, under command of Captain J. E. llbery. tnere being in all 300 souls on board. Tempestuous weather has prevailed on the South African coast since the liner left Port Natal, and it is considered probable that the vessel's machinery has broken down, and that she has drifted far to the southward. The cruisers • Forte and Pandora were despatched from Simonstown (Cape Colony) and Durban, respectively, in search ;of her on August 3. On August 5 the rates for reinsurance of the Waratah in London were raised to 50 guineas per cent., while much anxiety was being felt in Sydney in regard to the Australian passengers. A Press Association message states that a Gisborne resident named Harvey has his wife, son, and sister-in-law aboard the overdue steamer.