A TOTAL WRECK.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 209, 28 May 1908, Page 8

A TOTAL WRECK.

LOSS OF THE STEAMER MURITAI. ASHORE AT THE HEN AND CHICKENS. [BV TELEGBAnr. —rEESS' ASSOCIATION.] , Auckland, May 27. Information was received in Auckland this afternoon that the Northern Steamship Co.'s steamer Muritai was a total wreck at the Hon and' Chickens, but no lives were lost. Tho message was telegraphed from Marsden Point, which is opposite and adjacent to the islands on which the steamer was wrecked, and although but few particulars are available, it is presumed that the passcngors and crew proceeded in the ship's boats to the mainland, and reported the disaster. A somewhat similar message to the above has ■ been received by the Northern Steamship Co. as follows: —"Muritai went ashore at the Hen and Chickens at 4 o'clock this • morning.. No lives lost. No chanco of saving the vessel." The Muritai, which has been trading on the West Coast for tho past year or more, came round, to Auckland last weok. On Monday night last she left for Russell in ■the place of tho Clansman, and arrived thero tho following morning. The return trip to Auckland Was commenced about 8 p.m. on Tuesday, and under ordinary circumstances tho vessel should have reached Auckland last night. Tho-weather has- been thick on the. coast lately, and this would render navigation difficult. Tho exaci| locality of tho ; wrcck is not known at present, but according to latest advices the vessel ran ashore on one of the " Chickens " of -tho Hen' and Chickens group of: islands, -which lie to the eastward of the entrance to Whangarei Harbour. It has been ascertained that tho mails by the steamer were.saved. • The general manager of the Northern Steamship Company immediately telegraphed to Marsden Point to-'interrupt tho s.s. Kanieri,' which left Whangarei, to-day for Auckland, and to' instruct tho capfairi to proceed out to tho wreck and render any assistance. Which may' be requireij. '.It is. expected . that - the Kanieri' will' arrive. in Auckland early in. tho morning. Mr. Ransom has also made arrangements to have th'o'steamer Coromandel sent out from Whangarei to 'tho wreck to eifect'any salvage possiblo. Captain C.. - Hopkins was m, charge of tho Muritai; and his-officers were , Messrs. T. Leatherby (mate), W. E.' ' Allen (second officer), and'C. W! La Roach (engineer). Mr. •W. Eggington was' chief steward, and "Miss Logan.stewardess.:, Tho other' morabers of tho crew totalled eight. • There were-a number of passengers from. Russell, and the cargo consisted chiefly of oysters. The Muritai'is an iron steamer of 225 tons gross,-and .was built at Paisley,. Scotland, in 18S4 r Sho traded on the Australian coast for some years, and in 1897 was purchased by the Northern Company. ' This makes tho second vessel the Northern Company have • lost during .the past twelve months, the other vessel.being tho Kiaora.