LOSS OF MANUKA

Hokitika Guardian, 18 December 1929, Page 5

LOSS OF MANUKA

CAPTAIN CLARK. (By Telegraph—Press Association). WELLINGTON, Dec. IS Captain Clark lias been master of the s.s. Manuka for over a year. The vessel was his first passenger ship com mand. He belongs to Auckland, where his wife land family reside. Captain Clark was an officer in the Union Company’s employ for a number of years, prior to the war. He obtained leave during the war and went to England where he joined Hie Royal Engineers, and served as an officer with them in Mesopotamia. He returned to New Zealand w.i.i a splendid war record and subsequently commanded tne cargo steamers Eaton, Kurow, and Waipiata. • STORY OF THE WRECK. ROCKS SEEN TOO LATE. PASSENGERS ILL-CLAD IN LIFE BOATS FOR HOURS. DUNEDIN, Doc. 17. The. steamer Manuka (4,534 tons), which left Bluff on Monday at 5.30 p.m. for Dunedin, struck on Long Point, at The Nuggets : (87 miles south of Port Chalmers) at 11 o’clock last night, and, being in’a hopeless position, she at once became a total wreck. The vessel was on her way from-Melbourne to Wellington by way of the South Island ports, and she carried about 300 souls, including the crew of 120, and she had 1700 tons of general cargo. A heavy sea was running at the time, ami the vessel began’ to bump heavily on the rocks. The thick fog prevailing obscured the land. The passengers and crew were transferred to the boats, the best ol order being maintained, and they were obliged, as land was invisible, to pull about all night until 5 o’clock < this morning, when they found then way to the shore. A large number ci the passengers were still in their pyjama suits, and the men, as well as the women and children, spent a most trying time during the chilly night, on a rough sea. .Shortly after striking the vessel rolled on her side, and late this afternoon she was practically submerged, only a portion of her stern ' showing above the water.

The passengers’ luggage and all of the, cargo are lost, f ortunately, the mails were taken off at the Bluff, and forwarded to Dunedin by' train. No time was lost in acquainting Owaka, the nearest township, of tile disaster, and the townspeople there rose, to the occasion splendidly', and cut a track through the 'bush to make way for motors, trollies and other conveyances to bring the people to the little town, where they were shown the greatest Kindness, and'Uvere clothed and fed. They were later conveyed to Dunedin by the 'train which had been chartered by the Union Steam Ship Coy for the purpose. The steamer “Kaiwarra" and the tug “Dunedin” left Port Chalmers early this morning for the scene of the wreck. They will return to Dunedin late to-night with the captain, portion of the crew, and a number of elderly people, who could no make the rough overland journey to Owaka. The passengers’ accounts of the mishap agree that there was no sign ol panic; and they speak highly ol the behaviour of the Master of the ship, Captain Ross Clark. Among the passengers were the members of .a theatrical company, which was to open in Dunedin this week. The principals of the company came to the city this afternoon by motor car. This, they say, is their first visit to New Zealand. They are quite cheerful, though they frankly admit that they spent ail anxious time before they reached the shore. ■,

One passenger states that the lookout gave the warning of “iTocks ahead,” just before the Manuka struck. The engineroom was at once signalled for full speed, astern, hut before this order could be carried out the. vessel struck the rocks hard. The vessel struck at five minutes to eleven and 35 minutes later all the passengers were safely in the lifeboats, ihe men waited patiently until the women were in the boats. The only persons-, who remained on board were the captain, two officers, and the wireless operator, who stayed until the last minute, they eventually having to jump into the sea to save their lives. By the time the passengers came on deck, the Makura had a heavy list and it was almost impossible to launch a boat on the port side. About one o’clock the vessel slipped back, and as she sank into deeper water, a column of steam and smoke issued from the boilers and the engine room.

TUG BRINGS CREW TO DUNEDIN. DUNEDIN, Dee. 18. The tug Dunedin arrived from the wreck of the Manuka at 5.45 this morning, having taken 15 hours on the run owing to constant fog. She brought about a hundred refuges, including the Manuka’s crew, Cant.. Ross Clark, and elderly people unable to make the land journey. The tug took ample food supplies so that all had an abundance. The crew of the Manuka will be paid off to-day, and the Company will transport them to their homes. The largest number aro Dunedin residents, and •%, most- of the balance are from 'Wellington. Those who came hv road state it was nothing short of marvellous how the ears and lorries reached the refugees on the sloping clay road. All sorts ot yisks were taken. Two vehicles came

to grief, and it was a hair-raising spectacle to see the cars sliding down hills broadsiding every chain or so. S PLIGHT OF PASSENGERS. 1 DUNEDIN, December 18. Manuka- refugees accord special praise to one lady saloon pa-ssengei, who, when the crash came, ‘gave her child into the care of others while she went to the second saloon, playing the piano till all were on deck. Strange were the sights on the muddy road in the bush en route to Owaki. Women were in night dresses and boudoir caps only. One had a nightdress and fur necklet. It is stated that one passenger had a movie camera and films and took pictures. The highest praise was heard on all hands for the Shipwreck Relief Society for their prompt action this morning. Within 2 hours £1550 in orders was paid out to the whole of the crew, each man getting £ls to recompense him for kit loss. Last night the society made arrangements with three big restaurants to pro vide meals for the refugees, also pro'vicfing motors to meet the relief train and tug. The Manuka’s officers are:— Chief mate —A. Adams; second, E. G. Meatynrd; third, ,C. Carl yon; fourth, A. S. Smith. Purser. — F. S. Hamlin ; assistant purser, J. L. Barites. Wireless operator. John Standage. Chief-engineer, E. A. Griffiths; second E. W. J. McLeod; third, L. Jellymnn ; fourth, -I. Chambers; fifth, A. Gibb; sixth, H. Amos; seventh, R. H Burns.