The Tasmania Wreck.

Hastings Standard, Issue 406, 23 August 1897, Page 3

The Tasmania Wreck.

PROSPECTS OF SALVAGE. Insurance people are discussing the chances that exist for raising the Tasmania, says the Sydney Morning Herald. With her masts visible, well above water, and the hull lying in about 15 fathoms, and the ship upright, there is, it is thought, a hope of raising her. The Tasmania is almost a new vessel, and it seems to many persons somewhat strange to come to the conclusion that she cannot be lifted. Captain Fairchild, of the Government steamer Tutanekai, who frag surveyed that part of the New Zealand coast, who knows the locality thoroughly, says that close to the sunken vessel are several small sandy patches of beach upon any of which the Tasmania, if worked by tide?, might gradually be hauled up. Possibly it may yet prove that the last has not been seen of the Tasmania as a successful and popular intercolonial steamer. At the time of the less of the Catterthun various schemes for raising her were considered though she was lying in 60ft deeper water than the Tasmania, and in water treacherous by reason of the strength of the currents. Here, in the case of the Tasmania, the current would play no material part if Captain Fairchild's experience is a guide, for that experienced authority says that of all places along the coast of Maoriland none is freer than Table Cape from the vagaries of currents. That the recovery of a sunken vessel like the Tasmania is not considered beyond the bounds of possibility is shown by the fact recorded in the last Home papers received by the mail that an attempt is to be made to raise the North German Lloyd monster steamer Elbe, which sank off Lowestoft in January, 1895. The work is being undertaken by the American Wreckage f»nri Salvage Company of Milwakee. HUGGING THE SHORE. The wreck of the Tasmania was the cause of an allusion to the fast passages made by intercolonial boats, and the tendency of captains to hug the shore, in the Sydney House of Parliament the other night. Mr O Sullivan was the inquisitive member, and be deprecated the practice oi cutting off corners, so to speak, to save time. He inquired of the Acting-Premier if he bad heard of the wrecks of the Lv-ee-moon, Wairarapa and Tasmania, and whether he was aware that in these and many other instances there had been a serious loss of life and valuable cargo, apparently through the practice of keeping too close to the shore. Did he sot think it wa§ unfair to the public and would he take into his consideration the advisableness of communicating with the other Australian Governments with a view to legislation forbi&Mpibis dangerous practice except infFcas«of distress, or when making for a port of call ? Mr Brunker replied to the effect that it was not thought that any good would come of such a course. It was considered impossible to attempt to regulate the movements of individual vessels during storms and fog, sunshine and darfcness, otherwise than by the excellent regulations already in existence.