TELEGRAMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1921, Page 3

TELEGRAMS.

[BY TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

BARQUE RONA IN TROUBLE. ON THE ROCKS. WELLINGTON, June 27. 'The well-known barque Rona went on the rocks off the Steeples, a jagged reef inside Pencarrow Heads, just under Fort Dorset, about eleven last night. The Rona which was under command of Captain Airey was apparently in trouble before entering the heads and was seen to become almost unmanageable. She was “yawing” about on a heavy sea, that was making up, caused by a heavy southerly that came up suddenly. The barque appeared to be sailing a sSg-zag course when outside tho heads, and came through the entrance safely hut after apparently drifting in the channel struck the Steeples bow on. Soon after the vessel struck, tugs proceeded over from the port, one of them holding tbe barque firmly by a line, preventing her grounding. Early in tbe morning the tugs reported they were holding the vessel safely / FUR Til ER PA R TICU LARS. WELLINGTON, June 27 When the vessel struck there was some trouble about signalling. Every effort was made to get into communication with those on board, but npparent•lv the latter were armed only with a small electric torch and could not make the signals clear to the earnest watchers. An officer on the Komatn stated that when abreast of Pencarrow Lighthouse those on hoard noticed a dim light from i Rona, which they believed to he some soil of distress signal. The Komatn was very close, hut failed to get a satisfactory answer from those on hoard. It was thought possible that the steering gear go!, temporarily out of order, for in passing the Komatn nearly collided with tlie barque. Their efforts proving futile, the Koine la continued the voyage to Wellington. The pjrincipal fight-keeper at . Pencarrow got into communication with the signal station and harbour authori- j ties, as soon as he saw the Rona seemed j in trouble. He also communicated with tlie officer in charge at Fort Dorset. |

Tlie men were turned out immediately and had their searchlight sweeping tlie vicinity round about the fort. Shortly after twelve they located the barque and the Tug Pellican arrived and made it cable fast to tho foundering vessel’s stern. She was then able to hold the ship from drifting round. The barque was about three .hundred yards from the shore and had an anchor out. It is ascertained she is held fast by a jagged rock at the stern and has begun to list towards the shore. The Rona had eleven hundred tons of coal aboard and was proceeding from Newcastle to Wellington.

DEAN HYLAND’S IMPRESSIONS AUCKLAND, June 24.

The Very Rev. Dean Hyland, of Rangiorn was a passenger by the Malt urn- to-day, after an extended trip to Europe and America. He was in Tro-. land as late as April last. “How were things in tin* distressful country when you left,” enquired a

reporter. “Disturbed,” said Father Hyland, with a dry smile. “But lot me tell you this. You do not get the truth in th<, news raided to this country. You «rot the wrong end of the story. The alleged news comes through inspired Government channels, and cannot in any way he relied upon. When 1 left Ireland there were no.hopes of a settlement for no real overtures for a sottlemenut hud been made on either side.” “Will nothing hut a Republican Government satisfy Ireland?” “I would not say that.” replied the reverend gentleman.