MISHAP TO THE HAWEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 67

MISHAP TO THE HAWEA.

A BROKEN TAIL SHAFT.

DANGER OF DRIFTING ON

REEFS.

SYDNEY, August 12

The Hawea has broken her tail shaft, and is adrift near Norfolk Island. Fourteen members of the crew landed there.

The Moana sailed at 8 p.m..

A crow's nest has been fited to her foremast, and she took an extra supply of rockets.

She will keep a sharp look-out for the Hawea.' When she reaches the vicinity of Lord Howe Island she will make a zig-zag courseThe opinion is expressed here that the Haw'ea will drift in a northerly direction, and that the Tofua, en route from Fiji, will nave the best chance of picking her up. The Hawea has five weeks' supplies.

The names of the crew who shipped at Newcastle are -.—Captain, Charles Read ; first officer, Mr B. Irwin; second, Mr R. Williamson; third, Mr W. Cossentine; Seamen— Manifold, Carnase, Lynch, M'Crae, M'Call, Pearce, Coleman, Fitzgerald; chief engineer, Mr J. M'Lean; second, Mr A. Corman; third, Mr F. L. Litson ; firemen — Pryke and M'Kay ; trimmers — Ruddy, Donovan, and H. Thomas ; greasers — G. Frank, Chumley, M'Leod ; stewards — Moore, Cooper, Coots, Sutherland, and Cockle.

August 14.

The Wimmera arrived at 2.30 p.m

She made -an unavailing search for tke Hawea, via I^ord Howe Island, passing the island on the morning of the 13th inst.

Au-gust 17.

A boat from the Hawea lias landed on the south sid-e of Solitary Island, near Clarence River.

The island is not connected with the mainland by telegraph, but the signals state that the boat, which was in charge of the chief officer, left the Hawea on August 10 in latitude 29.15deg south and longitude 154.57deg east.

The captain requested immediate assistance, as lie feared that the vessel would drift on the reefs to the northward of Lord Howe Island.

The chief officer states that the vessel's longitudinal position has probably been affected by the recent south-west pales.

The occupants of the boat landed in a greatly exhausted condition.

The Union Company received & cablegram from Sydney stating *| la : r tJie Hawea was .adrift in the vicinity of Lord How© Island — about 400 miles northeast of Sydney. A boat's Crew from the Havcea landed ftt lord Howe Island and reported the circumstances to the Burns. Philp, Go.'s island trader Malaita, winch left Lord Howe for Norfolk Island last Friday, and thence proceeded to Sydney.

The Hawea-'s tail shaft broke on July 30, and during the, first 24- hours after the mishap *be drifted to 11 -degrees north and 35 minutes east, and on the second .day she drifted to 9 degrees north and 30 miles east.

On Receipt of the news, the Union Company at once instructed the Moa«a, which left Sydney yesterday for New Zealand, to proceed direct to Ix>rd Howe Island, end from thence fihe will zig-zag in the 'direction where the Hawea was last reported, and will prolong hex search if neoeaßaiy,

The Rakanoa was also instructed to make search, for the Hawea. The Wimm^ra. which reached Sydney on the 14th, reported having 1 made an unavailing search for the disabled steamer. * ■ i