THE MISSING STEAMER OHAU.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 3746, 22 May 1899, Page 5

THE MISSING STEAMER OHAU.

IS THE VESSEL LOST ?

THE BRUNNER’S FRUITLESS SEARCH.

MORE PARTICULARS 01' THE CREW.

There is no doubt in the minds of most people that the Union Company’s collier Ohau foundered in the furious southerly 'gale which blew whh hurricane force in Cook Strait last Sat,urday week and some who havefriends or relatives on board are regarding them The Brunner continued her search for the missing vessel or any wreckage therefrom at daylight on Saturday morning. returning shortly after 4 p.m. yesterday without having discovered a sign of anything that would throw light uoon the fate of the Ohau. Captain Mil [man reports having reached Capo Campbell early on Saturday morning. He made a careful search close into the land along the coast from _ Cloudy Bay to Long Island, under the lee of which it will be remembered the steamers Brunner, Mawhera and Haupiri sheltered in that wild Saturday. As no trace of wreckage was seen, and m accordance with instructions from Mr W. A. Kennedy, the local manager for the company, the Brunner stood across the Strait to Kapiti, searched all round that island, and, hugging the land, scrutinised the beach in the vicinity, circled Mana Island, and went into Ohau Bay, then on to Cape Torawhiti. In Ohiro Bay, on this side of the Cape, a boat lying on the beach caused some mild excitement, but ou investigation it proved to be a fisherman’s boat. Tho Brunner then returned to . port. The possibility of any wreckage from tho Ohau being found at all is considered small, as steamers of the class to which she belongs carry little or no detachable fittings about their decks that are likely to float, beyond her boats, hatches, lifebelts, which are all well secured ; and with the prospect of facing a big head sea, extra precautions would be ■ taken to make everything movable or likely to become movable especially secure. True, the Press Association learns that the steamer had thirteen thousand feet of timber as deck cargo, but the message lacked the information that the timber was black birch in a green condition, which would sink like a stone. So that the idea of finding flotsam in the way of timber is exploded. The Marine Department denies the statement that the Ohau was carrying more timber on deck than is permitted under the Act, and the figures wired from headquarters corroborate that statement. Captain Neville, of the Wakatipu, kept a sharp lookout for wreckage on the trip ‘'from Lyttelton on Saturday morning, but saw nothing out of the way, beyond huge masses of floating seaweed, that had been torn up by the fury of the waves in the recent storm. In our list of the officers on board the Ohau we omitted to mention Mr A. G. Matheson, better known throughout the fleet as “Tafi” Matheson, who belonged to Dunedin, and was one of the most popular and obliging pursers in Die company’s service. Until recently he carried out the duties of purser on the Herald, but on the Ohau being placed iu the former vessel’s running he was transferred. Mr Robert Burns, the chief engineer, is a son of Mr Burns, one of the founders of the Mosgiel Woollen Factory at Dunedin, and is said to be a lineal descendant of the Scottish Bard, Robert Bums. His brother is purser of the Talune. Mr John Young, the second engineer, is very well known in Wellington, having served his apprenticeship at Messrs Cable and Co. s foundry. At one timo h© took an active interest in football in this city, and was on© of the founders of tho Poneke Football Club. He was married some time ago to Miss Nellie Hand, daughter of the late Captain Hand, who during the latter years of his life was lighthouse-keeper at one of the coastal lighthouses. The chief steward, Mr J. Fielder, occupied a similar position on the Union Company’s Taiaroa when that steamer was wrecked off Kekerangu, near the mouth of the Clarence River. Wo understand that he has a son in the company’s service. Mr Warrender, the second officer, lias an aunt residing in Dunedin, but so far as can be ascertained had no other relatives resident in the colony. ' , Captain Grant, of the Takapuna, with whom Captain Brewer sailed as chief officer for a considerable time, bears testimony to that officer’s skill as a seaman. Captain Grant is of opinion that as soon as the gale subsided the action of the tides off Cape Campbell and the stormy north-westerly winds experienced last week would carry anything in the way of wreckage out to sea iu the direction of the Chatham Islands.

THE VESSEL’S CARGO. PHEBS association. GREYMOUTH, Saturday. The Ohau, in addition to 800 tons of coal under hatch, had thirteen thousand feet of timber on deck. There were no passengers on board.