THE MISSING OVALAU.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7606, 2 November 1903, Page 3

THE MISSING OVALAU.

m Tidings of Her Fate. Explosion on Board. Steamer Burnt and Sunk. All Hands Saved. Three Firemen Injured. [Extraordinary Cable Message.] (Received To-day, at 11.57 a.m.) Sydney, This Day. * News has just boen received with regard to tho missing steamer, Ovalau, now considerably overdue on her passago from the Islands. With regard to her possible fate feelings of intense anxiety have been expressed for some days past, as she had a number of passengers on board.

A number of steamers are now search ing for traces of the Ovalau.

Suspense was set at rest this morning by the receipt of intelligence to the effect that the Ovalau had been destroyed by an explosion on board, whether by steam or otherwise is not definitely stated. It would appear that tho steamer subsequently caught fire and sank. The accident occurred off Lord Howe's Island, in the Pacific Ocean, lat. 31, 30 south ; long. 159,10 east. Publio anxiety is greatly relieved by the reassuring intelligence that there has been no loss of life, all hands being saved, though three firemen are said to have been injured.

No further details are available at the hour of despatch.

[Lord Howe Island is about 450 miles east by north from Sydney, and lies almost in a direct line between Fiji and Cape Howe, on the route to Melbourne.]