KONINI WRECK.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1924, Page 1

KONINI WRECK.

LOSS OK .NEW UNION lIOAT. BV TF.T.F.C.R.W’II —PRESS ASSN., COrvItrGTIT. INY KR( AEG I'LL, Deeeinhor i l2. About two o'clock this morning, in heavy rain and pitch darkness, the s.s. Ivoiiini (.Union Steam Ship Co.) went ashore at Whale Head, on South West Point, on the coast at tlie hack of Dluff Mill, about half a mile from Ocean Dench. The vessel was making about nine knots at the time of the disaster, and she struck heavily on a ledge of rocks about two chains out from the rugged coastline, d here was

fortunately no wind, though a heavy swell was running, and in the intense darkness, the situation was siillieiently precarious. Four rockets were fired, and the ship's whistle was blown steadily. dhe distress signals wore heard and tin' Harbour Hoard' tug was immediately despatched from Dluff. She arrived off ilie scene of the wreck about 1.20 a.in. and. standing off about a hundred yards she took oil' the crew, who loft the Koni n i in the ship's boats. There was no loss ol lilt*, and no cas-

ualty of anv kind, the men being able to take most of their personal ell'eels with them. Subsequently, the vessel settled down. her engine rooms being full of water, with fairly deep water along one side. She now is a complete wreck and there is considered to he little prospect of her cargo being salvaged, though an attempt will probably lie made to salvage the lot of her gear. The lirst southerly weather Unit arrives will in all probability break her

up. The Kouini is a new vessel of 1 120 tons gross, and ST! lons nett register. She was on her maiden voyage, her last port being Wallaroo, South Australia. where she loaded about 2000 tons of salt and gypsum for Dunedin and Northern New Zealand ports. The master of the Koniui, Captain S. Yint, who is familiar with the toast, and for years had his Dluff pilotage exemption certificate, is regarded as a careful and competent mariner. Tin* loss of the Kouini is particularly unfortunate, inasmuch as it follows the mishap to the Armagh, which was piled oil a sand hank at Liverpool, while in charge of the pilot. Captain Yint was then master of the Armagh, though the responsibility for that disaster was not his. lie then took command of the Kouini. hut once again misfortune has overtaken him. The remaining in,'.'tubers of the ship's company, twenty-three all told are: E. Al. Anderson, chief ollicer; 11. A. Dowd. 2nd ollicer: L T. Wells, third onicer; It. 11. l’roctor, chief engineer: 11. .Miller, second engineer: .lolin Lewis. third engineer; .1. Ingles . boatswain : Allan Itohertson, donkeyinan ; C. Carnie, .1. Aloiierieli’, .1. A. Finch, L. W. I’oole, D. (iourley. ,1. Irvine, able seamen: Al. Carlin, doe Dickson. .1. Carlin, It. Ferine, d. Denttie, It. Graham. lireineii ; d. Lockheed. chi,'l steward; dames Hunter, second steward. The cflieers and crew were conveyed to port, and they are al present awaiting inst i'll,- 1 ions. A preliniinarv inquiry was held loday before Air 11. W. Ituirel. Customs (lUieer at. Invercargill. Apparently theie is little explanation 1,, he given, apart from Ihe fact that the vessel ; ,11 oil her eonrse in Ihe hlackm-s ol the night. Ihe rain

i'ihii i ilml in;' in I In* low visibility. Doe Isliiml whs picked im slum after tlm vi'ssi'l |illssi'il ('etilro Isliiml. Tin' 1 1 i s til i n*c liotwooii llu* two points is, approximately 2-1 miles. Tlie Konini Uiis st.'lllllillnr woll (lilt. t 11C* Olllll'SO IlCillLl sot til OillTV llOl*. it WilS 1 1 11 1 11 Lt 1 11. iiiiniil lii'liiml Du;; ls:iinl. which is tln* iisiiitl course followed liv steamers in:ikiit*_; round tlii» ciiiist lor Dunedin. Shortly niter passible Coiitro Isliiml. liuw'ovm*. (‘nnluiii \'int. wlm liml hoi'ii mi tho hridire since l'i ii.ni.. lost the Doe Ishiml lioht in tho rninslium which so iiitoiisifioil I lie murk tint! notliiii;j; at nil cniilil Im soon ahead. This whs not considered :m jilnrininyr oiri'lltlistiiiioo, ;is their cuiirsc slmllld hiivo omihloil thom In easily oloiir tho ihi ii non hi s rooks hi'liiiid the Mill. Tho

Duo Ishiml lioht whs not picked up nyniii. nml tho first lonllsiition of tho peril on ll io when tlm Mill suddenly looinod out ot the ihirkness nliond. II whs thou impossible to avoid the disinter. The vessel struck hend oil. nml immediately swum; round, Insiii" tier rudder in iloiny so. When she settled. her hows pointed out In sen ns though she hud emleiiviiiired to ninko seaward nml hml si nek In I lie stern. She lilted nml el'iimhed oil the links, ninny times until her plnlos wore badly cashed, nml, tonkin;.; wilier rapidly, slm liet;nn to settle. At midday she lay iipriyht. nml fairly hi”h nut ot the water. brine clearly in view from the siim'l hills nt Dcenn llonoli. To-iimmiw* moriiine, it is anticipated, n party will leave |!hlli' by hunt, iillil ninke'nn invest ient ion. provided tho son remains enlin eunuch to emihlo nil npproneh to In' nindo. It is not ronsidered Mint I hero w ill he ntiy possibility of salvaeinc the enruo. hut it is til*>ily_;lit Mint the fitiiuos mill "i'nr may lie recovered. The slonmer is mil fully loaded. nnd. of ooiirso, is linlilo to eel n hnUorino tit r.ny time from the heavy snii’-westerly sons (If.it. roll Ithroii"li t he Strnits.