The Taiaroa Disaster.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1685, 15 April 1886, Page 4

The Taiaroa Disaster.

FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE MISSING PAbSENGERS. '. "(Port)' There is every reason to belieVe that a youn? woman named Jessie Game, who j has also been- known as Jessie Fr*s,ev was among the passengers by the .illfated vessel. Mrs Game was a domestic servant, and left, the family with whom Ehe was employed on Saturday afternoon, taking her boxes, &c.,. and statinr her intention of proceeding to Lyttelton by the Taiaroa, her ultimate destination being Christciiurch. We are informed that she was seen going down the wharf on Sunday m company with two members -of the Salvation Army. The unfortunate woman waß about 27 years ot age, and arrived m Wellington 6ome three years ago with her husband, who died about a fortnight after landing. She* appear* to have no relatives m the city. For the last 18 months she has been a member of the Salvationist body, by whom she was highly esteemed. - ' ' Mr Erskine Galbraifch, who there is every reason to believe is one of $he drowned, arrived from Auckland a few months ago, and opened m Hunter-street a branch. office^ of Galbraith's Patent Agency. He was a sinsrle/man, and was formerly a captain m the 17th Lancers. He has only been m the colony a short time, andis believed to have originally come to the colony with a view to starting a company for the preserving and oxport of fish, on which subject he'.sovne some months ago interviewed the Hon. Mr-Balknce. Mr R. H. Vallance was one of the best known and at the, same time One of the most respected professional sporting men m New Zealand.' -.Until recently he was a member of the well known racing "firm ot Mason and i Vallance, whose, names a few years' ago wero identified with several successful turf coups, the partnership was dissolved "by mutual consent last year, Mr Vallance contwuingthe ownership of the horses and Mr Mason accepting the position of trainer to the Hon. W. Robinson. Among the •most . celebrated horses with . which Mr Variance's name has been' associated are Pinfire, Lara, Camballo, Randwick, Turquoise, Sou-wester, and Salvage. Mr Vallance was at the Island Bay meeting on Friday and Saturday, and was then m the best of health and spirits. It is not too much to say that there was no horse owner who was niore popular on the New Zealand turf "than " Bob " Vallance and his ever smartly attired figure and his genial smile, which he- always wore m spite of the worst run of luck, will be sarlly missed frojn the racecourses of the colony. He was, we believe, unmarried.

(united press association^ Kekbrangtt, Wednesday, The Taia.roa is settling down m the shingle.' The list to." seaward lias increased so'much -that" the deck is flush with- the water, and the waves are washing over her m. all states of the tide, No other mail bags have been recovered. ; Thursday. . The inquest was resumed early this morning.' Grant, one of the rescued, «nve a very minute-description of wiat. happened after the wreck.- Before they! left the ship's side a large number of blankets was served out m which they. wrapped the laflies. After the ship struck there was at first a" sort, of panic,, but afterwards the arrangements were carried out without confusion. AH .the officers were perfectly sober. Whfen the ship struck rio one appeared to know the locality. No gun was fired nor did she blow a whistle. Oho rocket was no good as a signal' of. distress, several should have been fired at short intervals. - Believed everything was done to save the passengers and crew.^ ...-.:

Wellington, Wednesday. The inquiry re the Taiaroa wreck will be held on Saturday. The sale of the vessel has been withheld. ■ All the men were loud m their praises of Captain Thompson, whose hand never left':th> tiller the whole time. It required much perseverance arid skill to prevent the boat drifting among the breakers. The poor fellows suffered very ranch from thirst having no liquid with them but brandy, with which they wet their lips occasionally. The boat now lies on Wellington wharf, looking not muchitha worse' for • the -stormy voyage. Captain Thompson lias been presented with a valuable gold locket l>y the occupants of the boat' rescued from the wreck. . .