It is fortunately seldom that such_ a casualty has to be recorded in connection witli shipping on the New Zealand coast. Several year 3 ago. it may be remem bered, a locally - owned Bcbooner named the Columbia, in charge of Captain Conway, disappeared in a similar manner. She sailed from Auckland for Napier lnden with drain pipes and other cargo, at a season when gales were prevalent on the coast, and was never heard of again. Another Auckland vessel, the schooner Clan-Alpine, was seen to founder off the Kaikouras in a gale many years ago, being lost wifeh all on board. Captain George Bell, the master of the luckless Louie, was an old and very well known Auckland ship-master. He first arrived at Napier many years ago. For several years he was in the employ of Mr Harri3, of timber-mill fame, running in the coastal kauri timber trade. Subsequently ho was mate of the Auckland schooner Albatross, when she won the schooner race at the Lyttelton Regatta in 1875, and ho afterwards became master of that vessel. He had the locally-owned brigantine Linda Weber for several years in the inter colonial and Island trade, and hie last command prior to the Louie was that of the Auckland schooner Sybil, in the Island and inter-colonial trade. Subsequently, ho went into partnership about three years ago with Mr George Pal tridge, in the stevedoring business, but went to sea again last year aa mastor of the Louie. The five men aboard the schooner all belonged to Auckland. The Government steamer Hinemoa was to leave tfaipnra to-day, to search' for the Louie along the East Coast. In shipping circles, however, it is generally believed that the search" will be fruitless.
WAIKATO AND THE CHICAGO EXPOSITION.
