THE MOANA'S SEARCH,

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

THE MOANA'S SEARCH,

(From Our Own Coiibespondent.) AUCKLAND, August 18. After leaving Sydney the Moana, which arrived here to-day, encountered a heavy easterly gale, which no doubt hurried the Hawea on towards the Australian coast. In the opinion of Captain Newton, of the Moana, the Hawea Drobably drifted between Lord Howe Island and Elizabeth Reef, which are 97 miles apart, or between Elizabeth Reef and Mictdle + .on Reef, which are separated "by 27 miles of water. Discussing the probabilities of finding the Hawea, Captain Newton said that^ according to the jiosition she is reported to have been in on August 10, she would then be about 90 miles off the Clarenco River. Witb. a continuance of the easterly winds 6he would fetch up .somewhere near Brisbane, but as it now ssems that the wind has changed to west and south-west she would drift north, in which case it would, he said, take a Philadelphia lawyer to locale her. Had the Hawea got 30 miles nearer to the Australian coast she would have met with the southerly current, which would take her down to about Newcastle, where she would be more likely to be picked up. The Moana arrived off Lord Howe Island on August 14. She dropped anchor at 4.30 a.m., and although she waited there until 7.30 a.m. the 12 members of the Hawea's crew who landed there did not come off to the steamer. The whistle was blown and rockets and guns fired to attract their attention, but they did not hear. A boat from the island came off to the steamer, and it was ascertained that the men were stopping at various hou&ee all over the island, and would not be able to assemble in time. Captain Newton left instructions that the men were to proceed to Sydney by a 6teamer due to call at Lord Howe Island to-day. After leaving Lord Howe Island the Moana proceeded north to search *he Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs for traces of the 6teamer, but found none. In years past numerous wrecks occurred on these reefs, but Captain Newton states that none now remains with the exception of the old ship Arizona. The Moaria spent a day in searching the reef 6 and the open sea for a considerable distance to the north, and, nothing being seen of the Hawea, Captain Newton followed out instructions by coming on to Auckland direct. The Moana, sighted a Tyser steamer and a foreign barque, but neither of theee had seen the Hawea.

In addition to the steamers aiready in search of the disabled steamer Hawea, the Messageries Maritimes steamer Pacific, which left Sydney on Wednesday for Noumea, will join in the search. The Whangape, now loading at ]Sew-ea-stle, will, in the event of the Hawea not being reported, join the other vessels in the search. This will make the seventh steamer in the search— five Union Comnany'e boat*, the tug Advance engaged by

the Union Company, and the tug Irresistible, which is also reported to be in search, probably with a view to salvage. The Moerak'i, which left Wellington on the 21st for Sydney, and the Mokoia, bound for the same destination from Auckland, will also keep a sharp lookout. The remarkable manner in which the Hawea has so far eluded the vigilance of those in eearch is believed to be due ohiefljr to the hoavy easterly gales which prevailed for several days, and then changed round to the southward. The effect of the wind, combined with that of the local currents, has completely baffled the sea.roh.ers and upset all calculations, but wifch so majiy searching vessels focussed upon the vicinity whence the Hawea was last reported, she will doubtless be • eighted very soon. Meanwhile it is consoling to know that she is amply provisioned, and no anxiety exists on that score.