LATEST PARTICULARS

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 131, 15 April 1886, Page 2

LATEST PARTICULARS

Kereranga, This Day,

The inquest was resumed early this morning.— Constable Dew described the condition of the bodies when found. — Sergt. Grant one of the rescused, gave a very minute description of what happened after the wreck. He sat next to Ward and McQuarters in the boat and there were five women also in it The boat sent out to see what the coast was 'like, came back and reported a steep bank and they could get no place for landing. A rocket was sent up and a blue light burned before they left the ship's side. A large number of blankets were served out in which they wrapped the ladies. When the boat capsized Grant was jammed under the keel and only got clear with some difficulty. He saw no one when he came up, and made for land. After the ship struck there was at first a sort of panic but afterwards the arrangements were carried out without confusion. He could not see if the passengers took any luggage with them. The Taiaroa is suppoesd to have shifted since she struck. He had no idea how far he swam before landing. To the best of his belief everybody in his boat but the chief officer had belts on. All the officers were perfectly sober when the ship struck. No one appeared to know the locality. He heard people ask the chief officer who said " about five miles from Kaikoura." He had been a Lieut in the navy, and he should say the Taiaroa' was going eight knots from four o'clock till she struck. No gun was fired nor did she blow the whistle, believes everybody was sober. No rrldder or steer oar was in his boat. One rocket was no good as a signal of distress, as i several should been fired at short intervals. They could have been fired, and the passenger attended to safety, at the same time. He could not say if soundings were taken after she struck. He would never have escaped without the aid of the life belt. He believed everything was done to save the passengers and crew and everything was in fair order.