The Overdue Steamer Waikato.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3472, 29 July 1899, Page 3

The Overdue Steamer Waikato.

Although the general opinion is that tho wreckage picked up at the Bays must have come from the Elginshire, the Now Zealand Shipping Company, to make perfectly sure that it was not from the Waikato, have had some of the hatches examined by their

officers at Lyttelton. Captain Willis sent five or six of the hatches found —one insulated and tho others ordinary hatches—to Lyttelton, where they were carefully inspected by the company’s superintendent j- iner, who has been engaged in the overhauling of the insulation of the company’s steamers for the past fourteen years. As the result of his examination, ho is perfectly confident that the insulated hatch has not formed part of the Waikato or any other of the company’s steamers. The company’s foreman stevedore, who places the hatches in order every voyage, also carefully examined the insulated hatch, and is equally certain that the hatch did not belong to the overdue steamer. As for the upper hatches, they bear marks of having been exposed to tho weather for a long time, hut otherwise they are apparently new and bear no signs of chafing such as aro borne by hatches which have been in constant use. These facts all point to the Elginshire which was practically a now vessel when she went ashore, and not to tho Waikato, which has been running for some time. Other persons in Lyttelton connected with the loading of vessels also express the opinion that none of the hatches picked up at the bays belong to the Waikato. Tho Southland Times of Tuesday last reports that tho ss. Awarua, which was specially engaged to search the Snares, returned to the Bluff on Monday. Cajitain Lovett repoitod that tho Awarua arrived off: the Snares before daybreak on Sunday, and a systematic search of those inhospitable and dangerous islets was made The coast was thoroughly searched, tho tug going very close in, but not a trace of life or wreckage was seen ; indeed, even tho usually numerous penguins were entirely absent, nor were any seals seen. Coming home the tug kept close inshore along - the south-west coast of Stewart Island, but again no trace of anything which might indicate a wreck was seen.

We may add that Captain Weston, of tho Waikato, is well-known in Timaru, making his first acquaintance with the port some years ago as an officer on the ship Rangitikei. Ho imr ied a Temuka lady, a daughter of the late Mr A. M. Clark. Among those on board the Waikato is Mr J. Turnbull, who has relatives in Timaru. He was second officer when tho steamer was last in tho colony, but resigned in London, and was coining out as a supernumerary officer. —Tress.