The Monowai.

Southland Times, Issue 15075, 22 October 1901, Page 2

The Monowai.

Much anxiety was felt in town yesterday morning when it became known that the Monowai, which left Bluff Harbour for Melbourne, via Hobart, on Tuesday evening last, had nob reached Hobart at a late hour lon Sunday night. Several Invercargill \ people have friends on board, some of whom embarked at the Bluff and others at Dunedin. No information being available here Dunedin was communicated with by a resident who has relatives on board and he received the reply that was so gratefully accepted by all who heard of it durine the day. We posted the gist of the reply in the window of this office. It was to the affect that the Monowai had reached Hobart the previous night. It was quite possible that she had done so at a later hour than that at which the telegram announcing her non-arrival had been despatched. The reply was from a source that could not be questioned and no one who heard of il doubted its accuracy. Later in the day, however, a Press Association message intimated that the Monowai was still unroported at Hobart and it became evident that some mistake had occurred in connection with the private telegram, perhaps a misconception of the verbal answer given to an enquiry. The missing of the word "not" for instance, either in speaking, hearing, or writing, would account for the mistake. Up to the hour of our going to press nothiug further has been heard of the Monowai, but news of her may come at any moment. The Westralia, due this morning, may have sighted her, although the chance is remote, the Westmlia coming by the Sounds. The Mokoia left the Bluff last night for the west, and Captain Spinks has instructions to deviate from his course to the extent of donbling the usual passage time in hopes that by so doing he may sight the overdue ship. The Corinna will, should the Monowai not be reported, leave West port for Bluff to-day with 20 days' coal on board, and will take a zig-zag course to Hobart if necessary, while j the Herald, leaving Ureymouth to-day, will j keep a lookout along the West Coast. Those j who are qualified to speak are of opinion that the Monowai has broken down ; that the shaft probably parted, and although a patented appliance is on ! board for effecting temporary repairs, the fracture may (as in the case of the Perthshire) be in a place difficult to get at arid the work of coupling tedious. It will be remembered that the Perthshire waa jast getting a few turns out 01 her damaged shaft when she was picked up after being many weeks adrift in Tasman Sea. Again, the patent pland is but a poor substitute for the sound shaft, and even if the fracture has been patched the engines have to be run yery gingerly and progress will be slow, especially as the weather has still every appearance of being turbulent at sea. Latest news from Hobart indicates that the Monowai had not put in an appearance there up to, say, 10 p.m. last night, but those who have friends on board need not despond for many days yet, after the examples of the Perthshire and Wftikato. It may be mentioned in conclusion that the U.S. 3. Company feel no anxiety. They have information from Hobart that strong S.W. winds are prevalent there, and the precautions are being taken to allay public anxiety.