THE TARARUA DISASTER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2246, 10 May 1881, Page 3

THE TARARUA DISASTER.

A correspondent telegraphed from Wyndham last night as follows :—Contrary to expectation, no more bodies were washed ashore up to ton o’clock yesterday morning. It was hoped, after the eighth day, that the bodien would float and wash in quickly. Grappling irons have now been provided, which will save the risk hitherto incurred in recovering the dead from the back-draft. When a body was observed, one men was attached to the end of a lino, and he rushed into the surf, in order to prevent ns much us possible further disfiguration, for it is almost impossible, in their present decomposed and battered condition, to recognise the features. It appears, from the survey which was made lost Friday, that what is known locally ao Otara Point is marked on tho Admiralty chart as Waipapa Point, and tho reefs are shown quite out of position. Tho wreckage is becoming obscured by tho shifting sands, and to show tho high sea that must have been running at the time of tho disaster, it may bo stated that the water has not since come within twenty yards of tho debris. Strange to ray, tho barn in which wo sleep and the shanty in which wo moss are constructed of tho remains of tho wreckage of tho William Ackers. Through the courtesy of Mr R. Pullott, tho local agent for tho Union Steamship Company, wo aro supplied with tho following information received by him from the head oflico at Dunedin:—"Orient passengers per Liguria lost in Tararua.—ln reply to our cable Messrs Gilchrist have authorised us to refund tho full amount of Orient’s passage money paid. We cannot, however, do this at once, as several tickets have been washed ashore from tho wreck, and may fall into some persons’ hands who may bo unprincipled enough to make uoo of them. Wo aro taking stops to recover all wo can, and have fully advised both Sydney and Melbourne agents of tho names of those who had tioketo, and have boon lost, with tho view of detecting any attempt at impersonation. Their return of passengers shipped will be to hand in due course, ond refunds then bo made. As regards the burial of tho bodies recovered, wo are

doing all in our power to satisfy the friends of the deceased. A carpenter has been sent from bore for the purpose of making coffins. Some will bo brought, here by Kakanui on Saturday, and receive Christian burial. Others are being buried at tho Toi Tois cemetery.” The inquiry is to be held in Dunedin on Thursday next. Captain J. W. Clark, master of the tug Lyttelton, is summoned as a nautical assessor at tho instance of the Collector of Customs. Collections at the Kuiapoi Wesleyan Church on Sunday amounting to £l3 7s will be devoted to tho relict fund of the families of Revs. J. Armitago and J. B. Richardson. The Rev. J. H. Simmonds preached impressive sermons morning and evening to large congregations. The pulpit was draped in block. A public meeting in reference to the same fund will be hold daring tho week. (punas ASSOCIATION TELEGRAMS.) AUCKLAND, May 9. The Rev. Mr McNiool, of St. James’ Presbyterian ohurob, in a sermon yesterday, said that es a recent traveller in the ill-fated Tararua ho had been impressed with tho •negligence shown in the equipment of the vessel. He was not afraid to express his conviction in the presence of tho manager of tho Union Company, or any other persons concerned. The steamers which the company had recently brought from England had provisions mode for tho safety of each individual pasenger, life buoys being placed under every pillow. Why, he asked, were not similar precautions taken on board tho Tararua. If blame were attached, if loss of life wore attributable to negligence shown in not making these provisions, then the blame must be laid at the door of those in charge, who wore responsible for the .proper equipment of the steamer. While blame rested on tho management of the vessel, tho Government wore also greatly at fault. The Now Zealand coast should bo so .lighted and guarded that such shipwrecks could only take place at the direct instigation of God. A lifeboat service was also necessary to secure tho safety of poor shipwrecked people. The Wesloyans are inaugurating a movement to aid the fund for the families of the Revs. Richardson and Armitage. DUNEDIN, May 9. Mr Pym sold by auction to-day the wreck of the Tararua, as she now lies on Otara reef. There was little or no bidding. The wreck, together with all gear or fittings belonging to the vessel, subject to tho right of the owners of tho vessel or cargo to labor for the recovery of cargo or any portion thereof, was knocked down to Mr Jae. Mills, of the Union Company, for £2O. One boat, lying on the boaoh near the wreck, was sold to Messrs Nimmo ond Blair for £7 Ith, and one boat at Port Chalmers to Mr Mills for £ls. It was stated at the sale that the Government intended to send down divers to recover the old silver lost in the vessel.