WRECK OF THE S.S. AHURIRI.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1047, 4 December 1871, Page 2

WRECK OF THE S.S. AHURIRI.

[OTAGO DAILY TIMES, NOVEMBER 24]

Yesterday we briefly mentioned that the s.s. Ahnriri bad been totally lost between this port and Oamaru, and that Messrs Houghton and Co, agents of the vessel, had despatched the s.s" Stormbird to the scene of the wreck. She arrived there at daylight yesterday morning, but found no vessel ashore off the place indicated (Turaai). Several bales of wool and other wreckage were observed. The Stormbird then steamed along towards Pleasant River, where a boat's crew belonging to the ill-fated vessed was taken on board. The Stormbird then returned to Waikouaiti, where the remainder of the crew were picked up ; and then proceeded to Port Chalmers, where she arrived at 1.30 p m, landed Captain G-. M'Kinnon," of the Ahuriri, and came on to town with the crew. The Ahuriri was a fine steamer of 131 tons register, built of iron at Whiteinch, on the Clyde, in 1864. She came out to New Zealand, and was registered at Wellington by the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company in 18G6. From that time unul the selling out by the Company of their boats and plant, she was employed mainly in the North coastal service. She was then purchased by Mr Johu Martin, of Wellington, and was sold by him only a few months ago to Messrs Houghton and Co. of this city. Since then she has been actively employed in running between here and Lyttelton, with occasional trips as far as Napier, calling at intermediate ports'. On one of these last trips she has suffered shipwreck. The event is greatly to be regretted, as every trip she was getting more and more in favor as a safe and comfortable boat. The following are the particulars of the disaster, as furnished to our shipping reporter by Captain M'Kinnon :— Left Oamaru at 10 a. ml on the 22nd, with a large cargo, four valuable racehorses, and a deck load of pigs, against a strong southerly breeze. Made good way against it ; passed inside of Fish Reef and outside of Danger Reef, where she passed the p.s. Samson at 3 p.m. Kept a course two miles off shore) and when between Pleasant River and Jones's Head, Waikouaiti, gave orders to set the fore-and-aft sails. Leaving the bridge, Captain M'Kinnon took the wheel, sending the steersman to assist in setting the mainsail. Five minutes after he left the bridge, the vessel suddenly struck on a sunken rock not marked on the latest chart, which the vessel was being navigated by. She was then about 1£ mile off the land, Jones's Head, Waikouaiti, bearing S.W, distance two miles Orders were at once given to stop the engine, so as to ascertain what damage was done. In about a minute and a-half the vessel filled; sticking hard and fast on the rock. The boats were immediately cleared and lowered, and the passengers with only what they stood in, and the mails, were sent on shore, leaving on board the captain, Mr E. P. Houghton, supercargo, and four of the crew. In ten minutes after sho struck, the sea was making a clean breach over her. The life-boat returned and took those on board, and proceeded to the shore, where they landed with great difficulty on a rocky beach, overhung by high precipitous cliffo. In an hour after striking, the vessel listed to port, and at daylight yesfceiday morning not a vestige could be seen of her. One of the racehorses swam on shore, but from the precipitous nature of the cliffs little hope is entertained of its rescue. After the passengers and crew had landed, they had to travel about four miles over large slippery boulders, before they could climb up or get to the open land This being accomplished, Mr E. P. Houghton proceeded to Waikouaiti, and telegraphed a message of the occurrence to Dunedin. The passengers svlso found their way to Waikouaiti, and came on to Dunedin by conveyances. On getting on to the level land, Captain M'Kinnon and his fatigued crew travelled for about two miles, when they cnine across the residence of Mrs Frederick Jones, who treated them with every hospitality, giving them food, and dry clothes to those who were wet. In fact, she did everything in her power to alleviate their distress, and Captain M'Kinnon desires, on behalf of himself and crew, to return their most grateful thanks to Mrs Jones for her kindness.