STEAMER MANAIA

Hokitika Guardian, 11 June 1926, Page 1

STEAMER MANAIA

REPORTED OX ROCKS. [BY TELEQRArn PER PRESS ASSOCIATION WELLINGTON', Juno 11. The following distress signal was received from the steamer Manaia. by the Wellington Radio Station at 11.35 last night:—“3.o.B. Manaia on Slipper Bocks.” - Further messages stated that the captain thought the vessel would 1)0 O.K. till the morning but he desired assistance to be sent at once for the pasengers. The Manaia was lormorly the Union Coy.’s ITotoiti Mind now belongs to the Northern Steamship Coy. Her tonnage is 1159. WELLINGTON, June 11.

An extraordinary message sent from Auckland by the Press Association at 1.70 a.in., states (ho following wireless message was received this morning: “The steamer Manaiu Dom Tauranga, ran ashore on Slipper Island in Mercury Bay.”

EURTHER PARTICULARS.

AUCKLAND, .June 11

Advice was received from Auckland shortly before one o’clock this morning (hat the Northern Company’s steamer Manaia had gone ashore on Slipper [sland on a trip from Tauranga to Auckland. The vessel was hard and fast but was not in a dangerous position. Captain Xorbury advised that he was all right until this morning, lie asked for assistance. Information of the accident to tho .Manaia was sent to Auckland by wireless message from, the ship, which struck at about 11.20. She, left Talira ngn at eight o’clock. At 2.30 tliis morning the Manaia reported : “Holding on to the reef with propellers. Passengers still oil board. The weather is squally and seas moderate. hut humping heavily.” An earlier message had stated it was intended to land the passengers in tho : ship’s boats hut according to the latest advice this had not been done. Tho ship is equipped with a small wireless j set which was installed in accordance, with ('llo regulations governing coastal , vessels. Captain Xorbury and First ! Officer Shirley are proficient wireless | operators. In addition Chief Steward Long lias had experience as an oper-

ator. The Harbourmaster, Captain Sergeant, advised at 1 a.in. that arrangements had been made to divert the X'gapuhi then en route from Wliangarei lo Auckland, so that she would proceed to Slipper Island to the assistance of the Manaia. Up to 2.30 a.m. efforts to get in touch with the Ngapuhi by wireless had not succeeded, but it was anticipated that failing wireless communication it would be possible to signal her from Tiritiri signal station. At 3 o’clock the weather off Slipper Island was reported to ho easterly with heavy rain falling. The Biinu was despatched from Auckland for the scene of the wreck at 9 a.m. Slipper Island is two miles off the coast from Coromandel Peninsula, and four miles south-east from Tail'on head. Tho spot where the mishap occurred is about one hundred miles from Auckland. Tho Manaia is a well known coastal steamer of 7,159 tons and was formerly the Botoiti, owned by the Union Steam Ship Company. She was purchased some years ago by tlio Northern Steamship Coy and at present, is engaged in service between Tauranga and Aiiekhind. She was built at Dumbarton in 1898 and liar dimensions are length,22o feet, breadth 33 feel ami depth 13 feet. THE PASSENGERS. TAURANGA. .Tune 11. Passengers mi the Manaia are:— Messrs Johnston, Fyfo, Toppling, Pet ors, 'Wilkinson, ffarris (2), Capper, Kenny, Ludlow, Cioehetlo. Maekrell, rTenlett, Saver, Hille, Ailken, Jackson. Patrick, Trelk, Frost, Ferguson. Con ning, Graham, Stein, Boole, l.ee. Jehro, Lock, Perryn. McKay, Bonham. Meredith. Harrison, Masters, Dale (21. Mesdaincs IJegg. Avery, I’errvn, Abraham. Misses Abraham (3), Rich, McLeod, Brook. Bucknell. Stewart <2l, Lully. Best, Scott, Pitaway, Stand, Lawrence (2).

TATvIXG OFF PA.SSKXGERS. WFT.I.TXGTOX, June 11. Radio messages to tho Roc-rot a ryGeneral of the P.O. state tho steamer Xgapubi was communicated with at throe this morning. The weather was then .coming up and the ship making water fairly last. About sixty passengers arc aboard. At 10.11 this morning a further radio states at 10,22 a.m. from Mtuinia, “Xgapulu now taking passengers off, two boats away safely.” AUCKLAXI). .June 11. The “Star's” TainJi correspondent wires that the Manaia is about one mile off Slipper Island, well up on the reef, behind a small rocky island. He could see a two masted scow standing by. The Northern Coy.’s steamer has just arrived (10.15 a.m.) The Manaia is keeping storm up. The sea is moderate and weather getting calmer, dull and cloudy, hut is clearing. Cory Wright’s launch is on the way out.