SCHOONER OVERDUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17101, 5 March 1919, Page 6

SCHOONER OVERDUE.

■ . .. •: AWANUI FROM NIUE ISLAND. GOVERNMENT INQUIRIES URGED.

'Considerable anxiety is being felt in shipping circles over the non-appearance of . the schooner Awanni from ; ; Nke Island. She was expected at Auckland over a month ago, But, so far, she \at | not. been reported on the coast. ' The " ''■ voyage to Niue Island and back is usually covered by the Awanui in five or six weeks, bull die has.now ken away ■11, 1 weeks, having left Auckland on December j 18. Owing to there being no direct .com- : munication with the island,, it. is. not known when she arrived there. The matter of the vessel's prolonged voyage'was brought to the'notice of Mr. .M. SI. McCalium,' president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, who sent the foMf lowing telegram to the Minister, for Marine :—" Considerable anxiety exists '- at the absence of news of. the schooner Awanui, subsidised., by. Government, ■' J which kit here for Niue on December 18.1 The' possible explanation is that the crew . may have developed irfluenza,, with, y disastrous results to the Niue population. 'We respectfully nrge'Hhat you mafeiffl-l;.; mediate .inquiries, with.:ithe?;.viw//of promptly sending a search -steamer.,' .Tho. Awanui is the only means of . conimumia. :. tiori With Nitie." A reply was received, which stated' that the Minister would attend to the matter at once. : Mm .Nine'{or Savage). Island lies 245' miles nearly due. east jof the northern part of : ' the Friendly Islands, and about 11520 mi'cs north-east, of Auckland. It is a solitary island, the nearest land being the Friendly Group. It ia seldom visited by vessel?, '• the visitors, being usually cutters from (A? Friendly Islands, and the Awanui, irhlcl . is subsidised.by the , New Zea!and^.GoV,i : ; v eminent,, and makes periodical visits. - . ' J.a: -.■-. . >:■■■■ ■■ - ■ -■' -'•