THE CANASTOTA

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 6

THE CANASTOTA

ANXIETY REGARDING HER NON-ARRIVAL. WELLINGTON. June 23. In connection with the missing steamer, the first attempt to call the Canastota was made last Saturday in the shape of an inquiry as to when she expected to reach port. Yesterday the ship’s agents (Messrs Dalgety and Co.) sent out a request to all ships within range asking them to keep a look-out for the steamer, and report to Wellington. Her owners had also been communicated with, asking ' whether a search steamer shall be sent out. The Aloerak', which left Wellington this morning, was instructed to alter her course slightly in keeping a look-out. for the overdue steamer. The Waitomo left New Plymouth on Tuesday for Newcastle, and the Waihora is due here on Saturday from Newcastle. Botii have instructions to try to sight her. Inquiries were made at the office of Amalgamated Wireless (Limited) as to tho possibility of tile Canastota being unable to communicate with other vessels or land stations if her wireless gear were not in order. The New Zealand manager"cf the company stated lie did r.ot know what tho Canasiota's equipment was, but if it was typical of the American marine set there was little doubt that it could fie heard any time, and it certainly would be heard at night, even if some breakdown in the engine room made it necessary for her to fall back on the emeigency set. The British and Australasian emergency set are usually of much less power and sending range than the regular equipment, but typical American outfits include emergency apparatus, equal in power to the regular equipment.. If an.v messages were being sent out from the Ganastotu he had no doubt she would be heard by other ships at sea, or by tho Australian or New Zealand land stations. The steamer camo to Sydney direct from New York, and leaded there a quantity of i''moral cargo and cases of benzine condtmod to New York, and left port with her eargo space about half filled. Sue was to load at Wellington about 250 tons of gene-r-:l cargo and 60.000 eases of benzine to be returned to America, with that lifted in Sydney. Th" suggestion has Fen made that 11.M.5. Ghat ham should be sent to. search fer tile rai sing steamer. ° SYDNEY. .June 23. There i? no news of the Canastota. which j., , an-ving <t cargo of 50,000 cases of benzine"" Tho consensus of opinion in shippim! circles is that the vessel has met wir.h a mishap which has disabled her machinery. making it impossible to use her wireless, and that she is proceeding slowly to port.