THE S.S. WITAKI WRECKED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1541, 25 April 1887, Page 3

THE S.S. WITAKI WRECKED.

Wellington, April 24. Newi has been received th it the ■taamer Waitakl, bound from Rapier to Wellington, was wrecked at Cape Palliner. The steamer left Napier at 7 a.m. en Friday for Wellington, and at 1.30 a.m went ashow about two m'.les S.W. of White Book. 7ha vessel lies m a most singular position, having ran inside a land spit, which is an effectual protection from southerly seaa. Looking at her from seaward, she has the appearance of being inugly moored to a breakwater. The 0.8. Mana, with the Marioe Surveyor, ft representative of the Press Association, and one member of the local press on board, arrived on the Boeno at 739 this morning. A very heavy southerly sea was running and no communication oould be hsld. The Waitaki was flying signals, both of distress and for assistance but although the Mana repeated by signalled to her no notice was taken. This tends to prove that the wh"le of the crew have left the vessel, and subsequently a number of men were wen In the , vicinity of the wreck Bitting round a camp fire. They evidently formed a portion of the orew set to watch the vessel, tbe remainder probably being at White Rock Station. From the position of the steamer, it would appear that the accident ocoured through mistaking Te Kftukau Point for Cape Palliaer and altering the course to westerly too Boon. Of course thiß is merely coDJeotnre, and nothing can be definitely Vnown until the return of her officers. It is understood the Waitaki, whioh belongs to tbe Karao Goal Company, was under charter to her captain (Captain Penoel) ard engineer, »nd that she had only a small quantity of cargo on board. Unless there is Berloos damage to tbe vessel's bottom there seems •very probability of her being floated off The steamer originally belonged to the Union Company, for whom she used to run between Danedin and Oamaru, and afterwards m the general coastal trade. She was sold to ihe Kamo Company, and for some time pied between Auckland and Whangarei. Lately she has been running between Auckland and Lyt elton. Her agents here know nothing of her in* rarances, or even of hor cargo beyond the faot tbat she had ten tons of lime for the new printing offices. The first intimation of the accident was a telegram from Martinborough, m the Walrarapa, probably forwarded by a station hand, but it gave no particulars, and the Mana having failed to establish communication with the vessel, there was no means today of, getting any. Information as to cause of tfee disaster. Auckland, April 25. The B.s. Waitakl was insured for £4000 !n the South British.