ANXIETY INCREASING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3459, 27 February 1912, Page 6

ANXIETY INCREASING.

PASSENGERS AND CREW. STEAMER GERTIE LEAVES IN SEARCH. CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 26. The anxiety concerning the steamer Himitangi, which is now 26 days away from Lyttelton on her trip to the Chatham Islands, is increasing, and there are grave fears that the -vessel has met with some serious mishap. When the Himitangi -left Lyttelton on January 31 her master. Captain- Cowan, calculated on getting back on Monday, February 12—a fortnight ago. It cannot be denied that the vessel is now seriously overdue, but it is hoped that if she were driven ashore or otherwise disabled at the Chatham Islands her crew would have been able to land. This morning the local agents of the Himitangi (Messrs. Kinsey and Co-) received a telegram from Messrs- Levin and Co., of Wellington, stating that the steamer Gertie is leaving Wellington at 5 p.m. to-day direct for the Chatham Islands to make a search for the missing Himitangi. The Gertie is a twin-screw steamer of 269 tons gross register. She is owned by Messrs. Levin and Co., Ltd., and is commanded by Captain Rodger. The Gertie should reach the Chathams on Thursday. , The crew of the Himitangi is as follows:—J. C. Cowan (master), A- MacIntyre (mate). H. Fowvers (second mate), H- Hobliu, G. Adams, J. Rodolisse, Otto Nielsen. R. Watson (A.B.’s), A,. Fry (ordinary seaman), J. H. Tresdeville (chief engineey). T. P. Scanlan (second engineer), M- White, G. Kelly, J. Lisean (firemen), J. White (steward), J. Merritt (cook). The following passengers were on board when the vessel left Lyttelton:— Mr. and Mrs. Blythe, Messrs. Hassick, Peed, Parkinson. Hough, J. McLean, H. Foster, Whagland, Hett-n-auit, Maiiss. and A. Grate.