THE TONGARIRO

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2871, 8 September 1916, Page 6

THE TONGARIRO

ABANDONED TO UNDERWRITERS

AFTER PART OP THE VESSEL

DISAPPEARS

CARGO ADRIFT By Telegraph—Press Association. Napier, September 7.

The wrecked steamer Tongariro, which broke in two early in tho week, is now in two distinct parts, a gap of from 25 to 30 yards separating the •fore part from the after part. The latter portion has sunk deeper, and the main deck is now awash, although the bridge deck is above water. As the parts gradually drifted apart tho cargo in the after part commenced to be disturbed, and to float away from the hull, and the sea is now covered with a mass of valuable cargo, which is expected to bo washed ashore along the coast. The weather at the scene of tho wreck has been beautifully fine, and the most has been made of the opportunity to retrieve as much cargo as possible. It is expected that the forepart of the vessel, which is still hard on the rock, will be workable for salvage purposes for some time—certainly °as long as the weather remains good. It is more than probable that all the cargo in the stern part of the vessel will have to be abandoned. ■Later. The Tongariro wreck has now been abandoned to the Underwriters. The captjiin and the remainder of the crow arrivod by theTangaroa at 6.30 to-night, with Captains Bowen and l'lunk(st. . The after-part of the vessel has disappeared, and only the top of the funnel and the mast are visible. The forepart is still on tho locks,. badly knocked about. ' All the cargo possible has now been salved —about 350_tons. A preliminary inquiry will be held before the Collector of Customs iu Napier next, week.