WRECK OF THE KONINI

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2827, 23 December 1924, Page 3

WRECK OF THE KONINI

ON MAIDEN VOYAGE. OFF BLUFF HARBOUR. NO LOSS OF LIFE. Invercargill, Last Night. At about 1.30 o’clock this morning in heavy rain and in pitch darkness the s.s. Konini (Union .Steamship Co.) went ashore at Whale Head, Southwest Point, on the coast at the back of Bluff Hill, about a mile from Ocean Beach. The vessel was making about nine knots at the time of the disaster and struck heavily on a ledge of rocks about two chains out from the rugged coastline. There was fortunately no wind, though a heavy swell was running and the dark - ness was intense, and the situation was sufficiently precarious. Four rockets were fired and the ship’s whistle blown steadily. The distress signals were heard and the Harbour Board’s tug was immediately despatched from Bluff. She arrived off the scene of the wreck at about 4.20 a.m. and standing out about one hundred yards, took off the crew, who left the Konini in the ship’s boats. There was no loss of life and no casualties of any kind, the men being able to take most of their personal effects with them.

Subsequenty the vessel had settled down, her engine rooms being full of water, with fairly deep water along one side. She is a complete wreck and there is little prospect of her cargo being salvaged though an attempt will probably be made to salvage a lot of the gear. The Konini is a new vessel of 1,420 tons gross and 832 tons nett register. She was on her maiden voyage, her last port being Wallaroo. South Australia where <sho loaded about 2.000 tons of salt and gypsum for Dunedin and northern New Zealand ports. It is not considered that there will be any possibility of salvaging the cargo, but il is (bought that the fittings and gear will be recovered.

The steamer is not fullv loaded and of course, is liable to get a battering at any time from the heavy south-westerly seas that roll through the Straits.