LIST OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 30 April 1912, Page 5

LIST OF THE OFFICERS AND CREW.

(Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, April 29. The long voyage of the dredge Manchester, which left Lyttelton on April 4 for Sydney has caused no very marked anxiety in Lyttelton until the last few days, but shipping people frankly admit now that they are genuinely alarmed. The Manchester is a hopper dredge of 833 tons, twin screw, and was sold to the Sydney Harbour Trust recently by the Lyttelton Harbour Board. A representative of the Trust supervised the fitting out of the vessel before her departure, and J. Siddall, the chief engineer of the vessel, is a member of the Sydney Trust staff. Many of the officers and crew belong to Christ church and Lyttelton. Mr J. Dowdiie, the master, was in the shore -employ, of the Union Co. at Lyttelton. The chief mate is Mr L. Schiiltz, who was lately on the small packet steamer John. Other members of the staff and crew are.—Second mate, A. Baxter; second engineer, A. J. Ayers; third engineer, J. W. Crombie; A.B's., T. Dally, D. Rodgers, G. Aasson, P. Prophet, O. Augustin, S. TV. Christie; ordinary seamen, S.-J. Gil ray, S. Anderson; greasers, J. White, A. Blundell, R. W. Aldridgej firemen, H. O'JSeill, J. Galbraith, E. Pitts, C. McDermott, G. Lambert; steward, J. McQueen ; cook, R. Wallace. Mrs Siddall. wife of the chief engineer, accompanies her husband. She signed on ;as tewardess.

The Manchester was a. twin-screw bucket hopper dredge of 883 tons register, and was built' in 1890 at Renfrew by Messrs W. Simmons and Co., the builders of the new dredger Canterbury. The Manchester was built for the Manchester Ship Canal Company in 1890, and'for some years she did & large amount of work in the Manchester Canal. About 12 years ago she was acquired by the Lyttelton Harbour Board and had a remarkably long and eventful oassage out to Lyttelton. Numerous breakdowns and lengthy stoppages for repairs at Waterford (Ireland), Gibraltar, Malta, Suez, Colombo, and Thursday Island stretched out her passago to thirteen months, but she finally reached Lyttelton safely. During her long career in Lyttelton the Manchester proved herself a splendid dredging machine, and rendered valuable service in deepening the channel in the outer harbour and tho inner harbour basin. Her1 hull was in exceptionally fine order when she went through Lloyds' special survey last year.: In view df tho fact that the new dredge Canterbury, specially designed and built for the Lyttelton Harbour Board, was arriving at Lyttelton last month, the Board disposed of the Manchester to the Sydney Harbour Trust for £9800. Mf P. N. Christie, engineer to the Trust, came over and took delivery of the Manchester in Lyttelton about two months ago. After being docked and thoroughly overhauled, the Manchester was got ready for her voyage to Sydney. Her heavy machinery above deck was dismantled and stored in the hoppers, the doors of which were secured and floored over with timber. Afte>- taking in 400 tons of bunker coal and water and supplies, tho Manchester left Lyttelton on Thursday, April4th. She called at Wellington on Good Friday, and after replenishing fo«r coal bunkers and water supplies, she left Wellington finally on Saturday, April 6th, for Sydney. Tho vessel had sufficient life-saving gear and boats for more than double her crew, and everything was passed by the Government inspector before she left Wellington. During the past two weeks, heav^ weather has'prevailed in tho Tasman Sea, and the dredge would probably have to be frequently " hove to." She is 23 days out from Wellington to-day. The Manchester was fully manned for her passage to Sydney, and carried 25 persons when she left Lyttelton.

Tho dredge Manchester was recently purchased by the Sydney Harbour Trust and left Lyttelton on the 4th inst. She called at Wellington, and sailed from that port on the 6th inst., so % now 23 days out. Anxiety Ls felt for her safety, as other vessels arriving at Sydney report exceptionally heavy weather."