THE DISABLED HAWEA

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 53

THE DISABLED HAWEA

NOT YET PICKED UP. SYDNEY, August 18. The boat which landed from the Hawen on {Solitary Island contained the chief officer (Mr Irwin), the third engineer (Mr Ritson), and a seaman named Pascoe. According to the position given by Mt Irwin, it appears that the Hawea was less than 100 miles from the main-land, due east from Byron Bay, when the boat left, but the recent gales have doubtless driven her many miles seaward. The opinion is entertained here that tbe Hawea has already been picked .up. Mr Irwin relates that after leaving Newcastle the Hawea met with heavy south-east weather and high seas. At 5.45 on the morning of July 30 her shaft carried away, and as it was found to be impossible to effect repairs an endeavour was made to eail the ship, but withoux avail. Although there was a heavy easterly sea the vessel behaved splendidly. After the boat was sent to Lord Howe Island to seek assistance and to make the demand on the pi-otisions lighter the Hawea drifted westward and northward through continuous easterly gales. When the v-sise! was 83 miles southeast of Cape Byron the second boat was despatched. * When it left the Hawea the weather was fine, and those on board it expected to reach the mainland the following morning. At 10 o'clock the same night", however, the wind freshened from th« eastward, and a heavy sea got up, which threatened to swamp the boat. Mr Irwin put out the eea anchor and used the oil bag. The wind increased to a strong gale, and a high sea prevailed. They covered the fore part of the boat with canvas, strengthening this with the boat's bottom boards, but notwithstanding this they were kept continually bailing. They nev-er expected to live through it. They were unable to sleep, and the focd supplies were just sufficient to last till they landed. The igale lasted 40 hours. Land was sighted on Monday morning, and the boat's crew reached ' the chore half perished. The Tofua leaves to-night. ar.d searches for the Hawea. The tug Advance has also been despatched. August 20. The tug Irresistible, of Newcastle, is searching for the Hawea on spec. August 24. The Flora has arrived from Auckland. Her eearch for tn"e Hawea *ras unavailing NEWCASTLE, August 24.° The Rakanoa's search for the Hawea was Tinavailing.