WRECK OF A SHIP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1792, 17 March 1888, Page 2

WRECK OF A SHIP.

[Per Press Association .] i "Wellington, March 16 One of th 6 worßt galea ever experienced m thia district for come tima commenced yeafrorday and increased last night, and has blown to-day with hurricine forceNo damage is reported m town by the heavy seas In the harbor. Great excitement was caused m town at 11 a.m when a. telephone message was received that Shaw-Saville and Cb 's well-known ship Pieione had ruo ashore on a tpot two miles northward of the Waikanae river. The Pleionc left London on the 24th December, and was therefore 84 daya ont, and unless the mishap ocourred, would probably have reached here m another two days, thua making a good ran. Immediately the news reached here, a special train waa despatched to the station nearest the aoene of the disaster, bat unfortunately the wirea were interrupted, and beyond a short massage nothing has oome through. Captain Bendall, of the Underwriters' Association, who has been at New Plymouth In connection with the Bellringer acoldent, has deoided to leave for Waikanae at once, and will be there to-morrow. The ship had a large and miaoellaneoua cargo, and as far as can be ascertained the insurances are :— Victoria, £2630; National, £2000; Colonial, £1145; Sooth British, £960; New Zealand, £924 ; Guardian, £55 f Union £1817- The Thames-Mewey Company I also a loser, but the amonnt is unknown The insurances on the ship are unknow n but she is valued at £12,000. Otaki, 3.36 p.m. The Bhlp Plelone ia ashore two miles north of the Waikanae river. A.ll the passengers (6) and crew were saved with the exception ol one seaman, named Belsohaftr, who was drowned. One lady | passenger his been sent to Mr Field's m a critical Btate, one boit having oapsizad m the surf. The cause of the wreck is supposed^to be through having mistaken Kapitl Island for Stephen's Island. The ship is broadside on. There waa no water In the hold when she was abandoned. There fa about 6ft of water on the lee side at low water. The captain is ipjured, and has gone to Field's to obtain accommodation for the passengers The Waikanae natives and Knropeana are rendering what assistance they can, and offers of provisions, etc., are freely made. | Ihe Plelone went ashore at 2 a.m., and the ciptain decided to walb till daylight before attempting to land, and then j aucoeeded m getting ashore without assslstanoa from the shore. The boats ware lowered, being placed m charge ot the oaptain, first mate, and second mate. | On nearing the beach the captain's boat c&p3?zid, and one of the occupants, a B?atnan named George Bolahaw, an elderly man, waa drowned. Mrs Foster, a passenger, wa3 takan from the watar greatly exhausted, and (ha captain was also bjnred ia an attempt to reach the Bh>re, Both are, however, progressing favorably. The vessel ia almost high and dry, but very little can bo known aa to the eaffcty of the ve3sel until the weather moderates. At present; she is making no miter.- - A -number of boats have been engaged reaioving seamaVs belongiuea from tno^ahlp. A special train from Waikanae returned to Wellington at 10.30, but none of the paasengera or crew went to town, being too muoh fatigued to travel.