WRECK OF THE STEAMER BANGATIRA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 3, 10 September 1880, Page 3

WRECK OF THE STEAM ER BANGATIRA.

♦ (From the Correspondent N. Z. Times.) New Plymouth, September 7. The s.s. Rangatira went ashore abont 8 o'clock this morning, three .miles to the north of New Plymouth. The Hinemoa was lying off the town all night waiting for orders, and at 4 o'clook first saw rockets fired. Captain Fairchild at once made all, preparation, and ' at daylight steamed towards the, vjppel, and. proceeded witjk Jji tyilf-a-Kiile-of her,«s' < fir "wajlii&ifctt fo.>TwdM||^^rfijieii low^citl, >6a|ia^n taking cH&rf& df^f^oi thfinn's-'^OHiey wenii a7ongsi,djß /ioe »B«ngati<at*'Qver which,^siuf'O^a^kMWtliy^^^pd a^istecß tff'hMa^ttfe^aJ^^ng^r^^ud^ orew^^^ft^Fje^epts. A landing hc^^{myionßiy ( 4)e/uii)ißfleQted fey^ the Rangatira's boats, a-'Bttle'-W w**erw,i^^a4sttbot^flfc(^friEe ir^|^9^)iibi£Awe kurg^stofihi^B^4-

gatira's boats was stove in on the beach; 'Thu vessel struck on a rocky bottom, near the mouth of the Little Waiuhu river, in the Bell Block, and opposite Captain Comwallis' large farm buildings, which are about half-a-mile inland. Other settlers also live in the vicinity, and on heivg aware of the catastrophe, they all came down to the beach and rendered every possible assistance. The passengers proceeded overland to New Plymouth, where two of them were bound for, the other four being booked for Wanganui. There were two ladies among them. The captain and the chief engineer were the last to leave the vessel, refusing to do so when the last boat left, but when it had got a short dis•tanee away |hey dialled for itf to cdnjebao^k'; /Th^s^awas tb^entn^ikr ing 'clean breaks over the vessel, and their position was dangerous. The vessel, after striking, was full of water,and as the breakers rolled in she was slewed violently from side to side. Signjite from hef coWnbt be seen in the town, and it was therefore not till half-past 8 that two surf boats went off to try to save the cargo, the Hinemoa towing one of them down. The vessel was then completely'under water, and therefore no cargo could be saved till at least halfebb, when there will be some chance of getting out the non-perishable portion. There is said to be a large quantity of wines and spirits aboard, which will not be damaged. There is no hope whatever for the vessel, ten minutes of a westerly gale would smash her to pieces. It is not yet known what was the cause of the accident, as all parties are extremely reticent. The night was remarkably fine and clear, with hardly a breeze of wind, and the sea outside the breakers as smooth as a pond/ Captain Harvey was below at the time, it being the mate's watch. The iron sand coast may have influenced the compass, but a careful look-out would have heard the breakers before danger was reached. The officers and crew remain at New Plymouth for the inquiry. The Rangatira left the Manukau at 9 a.m. on Monday, and all went well till they had found the vessel on shore. She had a tolerably full general cargo for Taranaki, Wanganui, and Wellington. Just above where the Rangatira is lying the brig Kate was wrecked a few years ago. The cause of that accident, however, was grog. The surf-boat men on reaching the steamer found they could do nothing, and determined to lie by till low water. The Hinemoa then went back to Taranaki to see if she could take on any of the Rangatira's passengers, and then resumed her voyage to Wellington.