MISSING STEAMER WAIKATO.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3862, 4 October 1899, Page 6

MISSING STEAMER WAIKATO.

NOT AT PORT ELIZ ABETH. SPOKEN BY A "SAILING ’'VESSEL. (Received October 3, 10.30 n.m.) BRISBANE. Tuesday. The barque Banca, from Giastiqw, has signalled Cape Moreton staling Unit she spoke the steamer Waikato on tins 2nd September. No details will be available until the barque enters the Bay. x'JNEDIN, Tuesday. The Ncw.JScaland Shipping Company has been advised from London that the news received on Saturday in respect of the Waifcato was interred. Tho doubt whether lltp vessel -towed into Port, Elizabeth on Hr id ay was tho disabled steamer Waikatoy of the Now Zealand Shipping Company’s'.fleet, proves unfortunately to bo only too well founded. Mr J. Burncs, the ‘Wellington manager for tho company, has'recoived a telegram from headquarters embodying a cablegram from London, which stated that the report that the Waikiito Iliad been lowed into Port Elizabeth, wak without foundation. The explanation of this disappointment evidently is than the authorities at tho South African port had seen tho Gulf of Genoa behi" towed into Aigoa Buy by tho steamer Aberdeen and had jumped to the conclusion that the disabled steamer was ' the Waikato., Now, however, comes the satisfactory news (hat the (.Iksabled steamer has again been spoken. This is tho third time that ‘ the Waikato has been spoken since she broke down on June sth. 'Each time she has been met by a taityny vessel —on July 30th by the.barquei Tacora, on August 3rd by the barque ''Aalborg, and now on September 2nd by. tho Banca. The nows will bo particular,’y welcome to those immediately interested in the steamer on account of the reliction That must have followed the nous that it was not the Waikato which hud beep towed into Port Elizabeth. Though \it is ' thirty-one days since tho BancaV spoko the Waikato, there; is the satisfactory assurance that tho steamer was still afloat on that date. - It will bo. interesting to know tile exact position where the/ two. vessels met, ami to ascertain the distance that ■ the Waikato has drifted since she was spoken' by the Aalborg in lat, 39 S.. lojigr E,, • and whether the engine-room staff has yet been able to get a turn out of the propolier. The Banca, left June 24th, and therefore has completed the voyage to Brisbane in 101 days.V She' ; is an iron barque of 94!) tons n~gist.Gr, and is commanded by Captain Wpod.