FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1497, 3 December 1878, Page 3

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

[By Telegraph.] Tauranga, December 2. The wreck of the Taranaki can only be accounted for by tbo supposition that a strong current set her inward. On the previous voyage the ship steered a point more towards land. The following account of the wreck is supplied by Captain Malcolm :—The Taranaki left Auckland on Thursday afternoon, anchored same night at a quarter to twelve between Great Mercury and Takapo point; lay there till 3 a.m.; the morning was fine but hazy ; passed through the Hole in the Wall at 4 a.m. ; were abreast of Slippers Island at 5.50 a.m., at which time the patent log was put over Shortly after fog set in heavily. On account of the thick weather the vessel was kept a quarter point off the land, taat is to east, and a sharp look-out kept. At 8.5 a.m. the distance run. according to the log, was twenty miles, which would leave the vessel twelve miles from Karewa. At 8.50 I was standing on the bridge, when suddenly I saw a white fringe of breakers. I instantly gave the signal “ Full speed astern,” and the helm was put hard a starboard. The look-out man shouted, “ Breakers ahead,” and I saw the land looming up before us. I immediately cried out, “ Clear away the boats.” The ship then struck. As near as I can judge, about three minutes elapsed between the time of my observing the breakers and the ship striking. There was hardly any way on her according to both log and engines. We must have been 4or 5 miles from Karewa before striking. The ship slid over the rocks grating . I am of opinion that, had she gone another length ahead after the engines were reversed, we should have escaped. The engineer now reported that the sea was coming into the engine room, so I gave orders to go slowly ahead in order to prevent her sinking in deep water. The boats wore lowered at once. In five minutes the first was alongside, and in twenty all were ready. Some little delay occurred in getting the after starboard boat into the water, because of the vessel heeling over heavily to port. All the passengers were landed, and the mate with a boat’s crew despatched to Tauranga by 10.30. Mr Gillon went ashore in the first boat, and at the request of the chief officer took charge of the grog and provisions. On the whole the passengers behaved very well, the ladies especially showing great courage. In the afternoon the crew worked hard saving luggage and mails. They wei’e heartily assisted. As the ship had by this time heeled over to an angle of 45, and as the water was up to the combings of the hatchway on the port side, the job proved very troublesome. A little boy named Westl ;ke did good service by climbing through the port and saving much valuable luggage, and at low water some of the cr"w managed to get into the saloon and save linen, silver, &c. About 4 p.m. two cutters hove in sight, and as there was no water on the island, I gave orders for the paassengera to embark in the boats with the view of putting them on board. Before this could be done, however, tbe Staffa turned up, and, after loading the rescued baggage, all wore sent to Tauranga. 1 stayed on board the Taranaki till 4 p.m , and, together with the crew, did not leave the scene of the wreck till 8 a.m. next morning, by which time she had divided in two, and nothing more could be done. I ordered one of the cutters to cruise about for floating packages, and several were picked up.