THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1907.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 316, 14 June 1907, Page 2

THE Kawhia Settler FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1907.

THE KIA ORA DISASTER. The accounts published in this issue < f i be loss of life and property consequent on the wreck of the s.s. Kia Ora will furnish, however interesting, very sad ns well as disquieting reading to the Kawhia public. This district is so cut off through the badness of its r ads from communication by land with the rest of the colony, especially at this time of the year, that the steamer service on the coast is regarded with peculiar interest. It is with ns not merely n question of convenience to the travelling public or a cheap and ready w»y of handling freight, it means more—;be welfare of oar settiers and the progress of the district is for the present, and will be for years to come, absolutely dependant ou the regularity and efficiency of this service. It is so universally used that the least disorganisation is widely and keenly felt. There is nut one resident but has bid occsfiiun to use it, and many very ficquen’ly, so that strong threads of gond feeling, well a* of personal intoieat ran through the relationship existing between oar steamer service and ttjo pob'ic. Although there may be the occasional grumbling and some protests against such as r ites nod fares it is a<imiib!rl that the Northern S.S. Co., th rough i a wrecked steamer, endeavoured to liltut tho nqniremonts of

oir trade, and the manner in which the buaiuess was carried out by its obliging officers left little to be deaired, and that brings us to the saddest episode connected with this diw»ter. However deplorable the loss of the Kia Ora may be it is overshadowed by the death of its most popular first officer, Captain Blacklock, and the two passengers, Messrs Forbes and Boss. Of the late captain it is difficult to speak too highly. He won the good will of all with whom ho was I »..ngl.l in contact; ou all wide.-t ~u | gaid cd as most attentive, l.yci-beaded andjoapablc—lo be cut off in the midst of his career of usefulness by thia extrnordineiy and at pra.isol ioexplicabfe catastrophe is indeed e sud ending. The sympathy expressed io the telegram sent by Kawhia people to his widow in her bereavement-is wholeLearted and sincere. We would also offer our condolences to the relatives and friends of tho other deceased gentieiaeu and feef that we need not aseure them that our action is endorsed < by all here.