AN OVERDUE SHIP.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9699, 2 November 1909, Page 5

AN OVERDUE SHIP.

THE CLAN M'PHERSON

Early ou Saturday eveuing an urgent cable message from Vice-Ad-miral Sir Wilmot Fawkes, iv Sydney, was received by Captain H. C. C. Da Costa, of the second-class cruiser Challenger, berthed at the King's Wnarf, Welliugtou. directing him to proceed as early as possible to the Kermadec Islands, and make a search for any wreckage or castaways who may be iv the vicinity from the ship Clan Macpherson, now considerably overdue, ou a voyage from Newcastle to Valparaiso. The Challenger accordingly sailed from Wellington at six o'clock last eveuiug for the Kermaciecs. The Marine Department shipped new supplies to replenish the castaway depot- ou the islands if the supplies there have beeu used by any shipwrecked paople. The Amokura was to have made a visit to the Kermadecs next week. The last call at the islands was made by the Hinemoa last November.

The Clan Macphersou is a full-rigged iron ship of 1(380 tons gross register. She sailed from Newcastle for Valparaiso, Chile, ou the 24th June last, with a cargo of 2485 tons of coal from the Caledonian Company's colliery. On the 24th September a cable message was received from London to the effect that grave fears were entertained for her safety, the ship at that time being ninety days out, aud that she has been reinsured at a premium of eighty guineas per cent. The Clan Macpherson is now 130 days out on a voyage which would usually occupy from forty to fifty days for a sailing vessel.

There are few sailing ships better kuown at all the great ports of the world than the Clan Macpherson. She was built in 1885 by Messrs Russell and Co., of Port Glasgow, aud her owners are the Merito Shipping Company, of which Messrs T. Dunlop and Sons are the mauagers. of Glasgow. The ship has the highest classification at Lloyds, and during her career has accomplished mauy smart sailing performances. When she sailed from Newcastle she was commanded by Captain Price. THE ISLANDS. The Kermadec Islands lie in the track of vessels bound from Australia to the West Coast ot South America, and consist of four lovely islets, ouly one of which, however, is inhabited. The occupiers are the Bell family, on Raoul Islaud. The group is about nine hundred miles to the east-north-east of Auckland. There are two depots for castaways on the islaud, each provided with provisions aud clothing, placed there periodically by the New Zealand Government steamers Tutauekai aud H.nemoa. One or the depots is on Macauley Island. Each is a small iron shed, with spouting and tank to catch rain, and stocked with provisions, biscuits, medicine, aud tools.

During the absence of the Challenger while eugaged iv the search, she will maintain communication by wireless telegraphy with H. M.S. Prometheus, now on the New Zealand coast. If nothing of the overdue ship is seen by the Challenger, she will return to Aucklaud in about ten days' time.