THE TARARUA DISASTER.

Kumara Times, Issue 1434, 7 May 1881, Page 2

THE TARARUA DISASTER.

The following are additional incidents to those we have already published from southern papers:— A very touching incident occurred, and was related on Sunday by one of the survivors. Oue of the A. B. seamen, who was on his way to Melbourne with his wife and child, having been directed by the captain to get into the boat, he naturally clung to them, but finding he could not refuse his duty, went and procured clothing for them, and lashed his wife with her shawl to the mast, after placing with her all his money, .£l9 and his watch. The captain had to take the child to enable the man to enter the boat. On our arriving on the beach on Sunday afternoon we found him with the identical shawl in his hands much tattered, but all the poor man had left of those so dear to him.

Of six bodies ashore up to Monday last, three are positively identified. One is believed to be a married man from Wellington, and the other is a boy believed to be Dr. Campbell's son, and the sixth is that of a female. At present, therefore, the list standsJoseph Wallace, George Gorton, (probably), Dr. Campbell's son (probably), aDd a young woman (possibly Mi3s Kelly, of Auckland). As regards the small number of bodies thrown up, that is nofc_ altogether surprising. When the William Ackers was wrecked at

Waipapa Point eight lives out of eleven were lost. Only three bodies were ever found, and two of these were not got till six weeks after the occurrence.

The Hawea picked up seven bags of mails from the wreck. One ba» was that from Auckland to Sydney; one from Wellington to Sydney, with enclosed mail from Nelson ] one bag from Wellington to Brisbane; one bag from Wellington to Hobart; one bag from Christchurch to Melbourne, with enclosed mails from Hokitika and Greymouth ; one bag from Dunedin to Sydney, with enclosed mails for New Caledonia 5 one bag from Dunedin to Hobart, with enclosed mails from Christchurch. The bags were opened at Port Chalmers, and the contents dried. About 1000 letters it will be possible to have delivered, but the newspapers are reduced to pulp. One of the passengers by the Tararua from Auckland to Dunedin states that just as she was leaving the wharf a cab drove up with several passengers, who were too late to get on board. Mr W. Wood, the well-known miller of Christchurch, also contemplated going to Melbourne in the Tararua, but fortunately determined to wait for another boat. Miss Jennie Nye, the wellknown actress, who is now in Dunedin, had her baggage packed to leave for Victoria, but was stopped at the last moment by a telegram from Mr Shepperson, offering her an engagement with his company.