OVERDUE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 8046, 27 February 1912, Page 1

OVERDUE

STEAMER HIMITANGI GERTIE AND AMOKURA TO SEARCH FEARS OF MISHAP AX THE CHATHAMS. The absence of news of tho Himitangi,, which is overdue at Lyttelton from the Chatham Islands, was a leading ropier in shipping circles yesterday. The opinion of those who have had experience of tho Chatham Islands is that the vessel has been delayed in. loading at th« islands by bad weather. The Himitangi, during a dozen years' work on the "New Zealand coast, has always proved an. excellent sea boat, even in the roughest weather. Tie - owners, tho Chatham Islands Fishing Company, fully recognised her sea-going qualities when they purcliased her a few months ago from Messrs .Levin and Co. The vessel carried a ro» 6ervo supply of coal and this could ba augmented by talcing coal from the fish>ing stations "at Owenga and Kaingaroa. The Himitangi is able to hoist enough, canvas,. if' .her engines are diEabled, to reach port. AMOKURA GOES ON" THURSDAY* The Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister fo» Marine, has decided to dispatch .the Gov,. ernment training ship Amokura on Thurr day in quest of the Himitangi. ANXIETY AT CHRISTCHURCH LIST. OF HER CREW; AND PASSENGERS. PRESS ASSOCIATION. OHRISTCHURCH, February 28. Anxiety concerning tho steamer Himitangi, now twenty-six. days away front. Lyttelton on. !her v fcrip to • the Chatham Islands,- is increasing, and there are grave, fears that the vessel lias met with som<j serious 'mishap. When the Himitangi loft liyttelton on January 31st her master,. Captain .Cowan, calculated on back on Monday, February 12th —a fort, night ago. It cannot be denied that the vessel is now seriously overdue, but it is hoped .that if fiho were driven ashcra or otherwise disabled at tho diatharm* her Crew would, have been, able to land. This morning the local agents of tho Himitangi (Messrs Kinsey and Co.) ro, ceived a telegram from Messrs liovin and Co., of Wellington, ' stating that the steamer Gertie is leaving Wellington at 5 j>.m.. to-morrow direct for tho Chatham Islands to make a search for the Himi« tangi. . Tho Gertie should reach the Chatha-ms on 'Friday. Tho crew of th» Himitangi is as follows: J. ■ C. Cowan, master. A. Maolntyre, mate. 11. Gowyers, second mate. H. Hoblin, G. Adams, J. Rodolissa, ■ Otto Nielsen, R. Watson, AJB.'s. A. Fry, ordinary seaman. J. lE. Tresdovi'lle, chief engineer. T. P. Seanlon, second engineer. ~ M. White, G. Kelly, J. Lisean, firo» , men;

J. Whit©, steward. J. Merritt, took. Tho following passengers were on board when tho vessel left Lyttolton :—; Sir and Mrs Blythe. Mr Hussicfc. Mr Peed. • Mr Parkinson. Mr Hough. Mr McLean. Mt ' Foster. , Mr Whagland. Mr Hettuault. Mr Maries. Mr A. Grate.

Captain Cowan was, -until recently, mate of the Himitahgi, and when Captain Manley resigned command the former was promoted. Captain Cowan was formerly a chief officer in t'bo Union Company's service, and 'was also in tho Canterbury Shiypinj,' Company's employ when it maintained the 6ervico between Lyttelton and tho Chathains. Captain Cowan has a thorough knowledge of tho Chathams, gained ihrough considerable experience around .those islands. Mr John McLeaa (formerly of McLean and Archibald, ironmongers, Wellington), and a son of Mr W. G. Foster, chairman of the Chatham Islands Fishing Company, were passengers by tha Himitanig from Lyttelton on her present. The Himitangi was huilt in 1899 by J. Fullerton and Co., Paisiay, Scotland, for Levin and Co. She is a steel single screw vessel of 323 tons gross and US tons net register, classified ae 100 Al at Llovde. Tho Himitangi's principal dimensions are': Length, 136 ft; beam, 24fl lin; depth, 9ft. Her triple expeneion engines are by Muir and Houston, oJ Glasgow.