THE OVERDUE SCHOONER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17109, 14 March 1919, Page 6

THE OVERDUE SCHOONER.

NO NEWS OF AWANUI. SEARCH ADVOCATED. No new a has eo far been received of the schooner Awanui, which is oyerdue from Niue Island. The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. M. M, McCelliim. writes as follows on the question of search for the overdue vessel :— "Some 10 days ago Mrs. Anderson, mother of the captain of the schooner Awanui, and Captain Rosa, who has an extensive) knowledge of the Pacific Islands, called at the Chamber of Commerce, and pointed out that the Awanui was over, due, and asked the aid of the chamber to induce the New Zealand Government to make full inquiries with the object of sending a relief vessel to Niue. At the time there were no less than three of the Union Steam Ship Company's vessels to the Pacific, namely, the Talune, Piora, and Atua, any one of which might easilv have called at Niue without any appreciable delay. However, the Marine Department made its enquiries, and decided that there was no cause for alarm, nor need for action. Qn Saturday morning last I telegraphed the Minister or Marine that there was still grave cause for anxiety, and suggested that he should instruct tho Flora-due to leave Raratonga on that day for Auckland— wireless, to call at Niue. He replied that x he would communicate with the Union Company, but apparently nothing has been done, " Now, the position is that the schooner Awanui left hero 12 weeks ago, to proceed direct to Niue, and to return direct. Five to six weeks would be ample time for the trip, and a& the vessel \s now at least six weeks, overdue, the relatives of those on board are naturally anxious and alarmed, The captain is Captain David Anderson, and tho mate is Captain Ruth, of Ruth's Island, Niue is under the protectorate of New Zealand, and the Awanui is subsidised by the New Zealand Government to make certain trips each year, The visits of the Awanui m the only means of communication with Niue. " One hopes that the terrible loss of life recently through the war and the plague has not made the authorities callous to the fate of the crew of the Awanui, and to the welfare of tho 4000 inhabitants of Niue. I should be indeed Bony Ito cause needless alarm, but 1 am satisfied, from close inauiries from those who know tho Islands well, that the matter is serious. " I earnestly hope (that the little vessel will be reported somewhere at an early date, but I think the Marine Department should tako prompt steps to communicate with Niue."