WAIKARE ON A ROCK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 705, 6 January 1910, Page 3

WAIKARE ON A ROCK.

Beached to prevent sinking. Dunedin, January 4. The Union Steam Ship Company received word this evening f ' that the s.s. Waikare had struck a rock in Dusky Sound at noon. The vessel is reported to be badly damaged, and the engine-room and stokehole are full to the waterlevel. The vessel was beached on Stop Island, and the passengers and crew were lauded on the beach of the mainland. Arrangements are being made to dispatch the Moura as early as possible to-morrow morning for the scene. The Union Company lost no lime in communicating with the Prime, Minister, now in Invercargill, and, as a result H.M.S, Pioneer, now lying at the Bluff, is coaling to-fiight, and her commander hopes to get away to the scene by daylight to-morrow. He hopes to reach Dusky Sound at noon, and be back again at the Bluff with the passengers by 7 p.m. The lighthouse-keeper at Puysegur Point has been signalled that the Rosamond, which is due at the Bluff to-morrow morning is to proceed to Dusky Sound to stand by the Waikare. An ample stock of supplies will be put on board the Moura, and Mr MTntyre, works manager, will be a passenger by her to inspect and consider what is to be done by way of salvage. Wellington has been telegraphed to get the tug Terawhiti and salvage gear ready for tomorrow morning. It is hoped that the Moura will be ready to proceed to Dusky Sound by eight o’clock to-morrow morning. The Waikare, which was on her second excursion to the Sounds this summer, had 150 passengers on board. Dunedin, Jan. 5. The Waikare is in a perilous position, and it is feared her back will break. The vessel is badly damaged. • From the meagre iuformalien - supplied it is quite clear that the damaged steamer was beached in remarkably quick time. This was necessary owing to the depth of water iti the immediate vicinity. The Waikare was making her fourteenth trip to the Sounds, and this was the first occasion on which she met with any mishap. The Moura left Port Chalmers at 8.20 this morning and arrives at the Bluff to-night. She expects to meet the,Pioneer returning from Dusky Bay. If necessary the Moura will, proceed to the Waikare’s assistance. The tug Tera- , whiti, with salvage equipment under controT"of Mr*Daniel, the Company’s salvage expert, will be • eady to leave Wellington to- -, night if advised that it is necessary. The Rosamond arrived at the Bluff this morning having passed Puysegur Point in the night without being intercepted. As the Pioneer has proceeded to the scene the Rosamond will not go. THE CAPTAIN’S REPORT. DunEEin, Jan. 3, Capt. Newton wires to headquarters that the Waikare struck at noon yesterday aud was beached 011 Stop Island, where she lauded her passengers aud crew, all well. The vessel is stem on to the island, and her stern lies in eleven fathoms of water. The s.s. Waikare, a vessel twelve years old, is now writtendown to a value 0! about ,£40,000, though her original cost was more than double that figure. No definite information has so Jar been received, however, as to the extent of the damage she has suffered. It is not expected that her officers and crew will be on board the Pioneer unless, of course, the mishap in Dusky Sound has been of such a serious nature as to render her a total wreck. The passengers, comprising 70 ladies and 56 men, are .•“•■mostly New Zealand people. The captain, who was in command of the Waikare on the present trip has been to the Sounds before in the capacity of chief officer, but this was his first excursion as captain. Mr T. W. Whitson, secretary of the Union Company, arrived from Dunedin by the first express on Wednesday, and has been in constant attendance at the Bluff office supervising arrrangements.