Messrs. Burns, Philp's steamer Ovalau is now considerably overdue in Sydney on her return voyage from the New Hebrides vid Norfolk Island: The Oyalay was duly reported as having left the latter port and was to callet Lord Howe Islxud en rou to sy The passage usually occupies from 4 to 5 days, and when the sixth day arrived without any news of the vessel, the owners became auxinns s to her safety. Search parties were at once organised and no less than seven vessels sre now out looking for the missing steamer. Amongst them. sure the cruiser Mildura, and th-Goverament pilot stemaer Captain Cook, which has been coaled and provisioned for a twelve days? search. Burns, Philp and Ca. have also drs-patched their I-land steamer Ysabel on similar commission.
Since the search vessels have left Sydney two arrivals from New Usledonia and Fi respectively. whose tracks coincide with that which would be taken by the Ovalau, have reported that they have seen nothing of the missing vessel. Burns, Philp & Ca. have been unfortunate of late with regard to their fleet of steamers trading to the South Seas. Not long ago a new steamer, the Mambare specially built for the trade, was totally lost on a reef in the New Hebrides group. The passenger list of the Ovalau include the names of several well-known people engaged in business amongst the islands of the South Eacific, besides several others making a pleasure tour. The Ovalau ix a recent purchase, having ori Eo. of New Zealand by Denny Bros.
nally been built for the Union
of Dumbarton.
(Later.) fate have come to hand from Now ACE pam, of the day previous to making Lord Tle Island, tire broke out in the forehold, where'a quantity of copra in bulk was stowed. Hoses were at once gut to work and all possible speed made for the anchorage a Land. Meanwhile boats were provisioned and every preparation made in case it should be necessary to leave the vessel during the night. The anchorage was made soon after daylight and passengers, mails, ete, boats brought off by the island captain and crew then left the ves: shortly after a tremendous explosion curred, and the Ovalau sank in deep water. All hands were left stranded on the Island for a fortnight until the arrival of the Captain Cook and Ysabel, by which vessels they were brought on to Sydney. Insurances had been re-effected at 25 guineas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.