WRECK OF THE AHURIRI.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2736, 23 November 1871, Page 3

WRECK OF THE AHURIRI.

The arrival of the Storm Bird this afternoon enables us to give authentic particulais of the loss of the steamship Ahunn which was announced this morning by our contemporary. The Ahuriri was the property of Messrs Houghton and Co., and left ©amaru yesterday morning at 11 o’clock. Opposite the Fish Reef a strong S. W. wind sprung up, and the vessel was kept running within a mile and a-half of the shore, with no sign of breakers, and continued her course until five minutes to five in the afternoon, when she struck lightly on a reef off Tumai, and in a very few minutes the compartments ■were filled, excepting the forecastle one. The boats were immediately lowered, and the life boat in charge of the chief officer was dispatched with the ladies on board, and some passengers, who were landed without accident. The boat then returned to the wreck, and the chief officer reports that by the time he arrived the sea was washing over the Ahuriri. The remainder of the passengers and the Captain were safely landed, saving nothing excepting the mails and the ship’s papers. At midnight the vessel was still in sight ; but at 3.30 this morning not a vestige of t er was to be seen. Some of the passengers reached town by coach this morning; and Messrs Houghton, on receipt of the news, sent the Storm Bird down to render assistance ; but it is needless to say, nothing could be done. Forming part of the cargo were four horses and some pigs, of which one horse with a few pigs reached the shore. Mr and Mrs Jones, of Tumai Station, paid every attention, and did all that could be done to render both passengers and crew comfortable. It is not often that under such circumstances the coolness and promptitude are displayed that marked the conduct of both crew and passengers in this instance. There was no confusion, the life-boat was lowered successfully in something like four minutes after the vessel struck, and although the second boat required some time longer, all the necessaay work was done without a hitch. We have received the following account of the wreck by a passenger; This vessel on her way from Oamaru to Dunedin struck on a reef abreast of the Tumai Estate, near Waikouaiti, yesterday, at 5 p.m. It was low tide at the lime ; a heavy sea was rolling with a head wind blowing, and Captain McKinnon hugged the • shore for shelter and smooth water. The crew numbered 13 hands, and there were 12 passengers. Half an-hour after the vessel struck the passengers were landed safe, and great credit is due to the chief officer and men for the daring and courage displayed by them in the management of the boat. , The vessel was loaded with wool. There were on board a lot of pigs, besides three variable racehorses belonging to Mr Milner, of Chiistchurcli. The whole of the cargo, passengers’ luggage, &c., were lost The live stock, with the exception of of one racehorse (which we hear has since died) and seven pigs, were drowned. Capt. M'Kinnon states that the chart in his possession gave no intimation of the existence of this reef. The vessel rapidly filled and sank, the tops of the masts only being now visible. It is the opinion of many that the steamer was too close in shore. The following is the cargo of the Ahuriri. From Oamaru 50 bales of wool, Wright, Stephenson, and Co. ; 34 bales of wool, John Reid ; 1 cask of soap, Cargill and M'Lean ; 70bags of flour, Jaa. Winter; 1 bale of wool, Dalgety, Nicholls, and Co. ; 120 bags of flour, Cochrane and Co. ; a lot of luggage, j, i enderson. ’ From Timaru—l engine, Blackaddcr ; 1 pase. Miss Wilson; 1 trunk, Thos. Scott; 14 sacks cheese, 5 kegs butter. W. and G. Turnbull and Co. ; 30 casks (5 full), Marshall and Copeland. From Akaroa—7 cases cheese, 1 keg butter, G. F. Held ; 1 cask tallow, Turnbull, and Co. ; 67 cheese, order. ' Pro-n Lyttelton—3 race horses, Wilmer; 81 packages Inagage, Burnley; 23 casks, Marshall and Copeland ; 7 bags grass seed, W. and G. Turnbull and Co. ; 30 bags flour, 100 pigs, I horse, 1 buggy, 3 cases bacon, George Bros.