COASTAL STEAMER WRECKED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2436, 15 April 1915, Page 3

COASTAL STEAMER WRECKED

S.S. RAKIURA STRIKES A ROCK . ALL HANDS SAVED Word was received in Wellington yesterday morning stating that the wellknown coastal steamer Rakiura had been wrecked at the end of Stephen's Island passage at 5 a.m. yesterday. The vessel left Puponga at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, bound for Wellington _ with a full load of coal. The accident is attributed to very thick weather in Cook Strait on the night in question. All .hands managed to reach D'Urville Island safely, and they will arrive at Wellington by the Nikau to-day. It was originally intended that they should come across by the Arahura last evening, but late last evening Messrs. Cathie, Dempster, and Co;, mercantile produce brokers; who were local agents for the vessel, received the following telegram from Captain Boyd:—

"All well. Mate and crew . coming to-night. Engineer and myself staying near till to-morrow. Mustairy and get ship's papers." Late yesterday afternoon Captain Boyd advised the agents that the'Rakiura had struck the rocks inside Cape Stephen's passage. The weather was thick at the time, and the . wind was blowing fresh. The ship was reported to be breaking up, and the crew had landed safely at Port Hardy in the vessel's boat. Raklura Dosorlbed. ■Although the Rakiura was only a vessel of 128 tons, she was considered very seaworthy, and those who have been associated with the steamer speak well of her behaviour in heavy weather. She was an iron vessel, having been constructed in Auckland by Messrs. Fraser and Tinne in 1878 for Captain Casey. Her principal dimensions were Length, 102.5 ft.: breadth, 17.1 ft.; depth, 9.5 ft. Under tne ownership of that well-known captain, the Hose Casey, as she was then known, .made many trips to and from Auckland. Some years laier she was purchased by Messrs. Keith Ranisay and Co., of Dunedin, and engaged in the trade to Invercargill and other southern ports. Messrs. Nyeberg Bros, purchased the vessel about two or three years ago, and for some time engaged her in trading between Greymouth and Lyttelton with timber. Subsequently she entered the Cook Strait service, and for over twelve months past she has been a fairly regular visitor to Wellington. It is understood the vessel was insured.

Stephens Island has not been the scene of many wrecks. .On the night of March 7, 1913, the steamer Red Pine was wrecked at the island, as also was the Jane Douglas on June 9, 1912. The Merlin, a schooner, was totally lost on August 15, 1879. In each case there was no loss of life. Captain J. Boyd was- acting-master of the Rakiura, and Mr. Gibb was mate, while Mr. A. Jackson, late of the Maoriland Steamship Company, was engineer. There were three able seamen, two firemen and a cook, also on board the Rakiura when she was wrecked. (By Teleeraph—Press Association.! Nelson, April 14. The RakiuraV crew landed in the veissel's own boats at Wiggins 1 and Brown's station, Port Hardy, on the northern end of D'Urville Island. The Anchor Company's Regulus passled through Stephen's Island passage at 2.30 this morning; - A fresh nor'-wester was blowing, arid the weather was very thick, with heavy rain. .