LATEST NEWS.

Manawatu Times, Volume IV, Issue 69, 8 September 1880, Page 2

LATEST NEWS.

'■LOSS

Nfl|^ Plymouth, Tuesday evening. At three o'clock this -*~ morning, the steamer Rangatira;on her passage from the Marmkau; to Jhia^Pdrt,' ran ashore near the Bell Block, and became a total -wreck. The steamer, was m charge of , bh#, Chief Officor, and at the time of the disaster the Captain and passengers were awakened by a slight shock like the dropping of the anchor. Im- ' mtediately it struck, the order to: reverse the engines was givenj-and then a second - shock was felt; and {the steamer wasfound to be^ fairly aground on the rocks. - Captain Harvey was/on deck m a few seconds, after, the first shock, and at once saw the; danger, which it was impossible to avert. The engines were unworkable. and the "steamer- was fixed -m .the rocks as firmly as m a vyce. The tide -was :at half-ebb afe the time,: and the. water was making its appearance m the forecompartments. The boats were lowered, and the passengers and mails 'were brought ashore. The luggage was also safelyianded, •"and the passengers and crew ; received every attention from the settlers at' the Bell Block, At?, ten. o'clock .the .sea was breaking over the steamer, and Captain <Harivey >' was compelled to> abandon her. 'Some, of i. the., cargo , was washed; ashore.' Fears are entertained that she wiilV'break. 'up ?by -noon.' The Government tteamier Hinemo* left the. roadstead shorty after daylight, and steamed down to the sceflij but could render, no assistance, as the Rangatira was m a hopeless state. ; -The R:.n ? afcira was owned by the Hon. John Martin, D. Anderson, aiid J: Brown, and was valued at £6,000, She was not insured. „; : ; >',-:;:.;_: -..;.'-.;.■■ -■■:•.-. ''- ! It was a beautiful .nightt and the cause of the disaster, has been attributed to some dereliction of duty on the 'part of the -men. on the watch. . ' : . . : : - ; i Wliai'KGTOir, Tue day Evening. THE v AUDITOR-GENERAL. Mr Fitzgerald, the Auditor-General^ has left on a visit to the Australia* Colonies, with a view to report on the different! systems of audit account keeping m those colonies. . ■ '__■._-' - ■; ; !■- ■ ■'■'" : THE MOBPI^AL INQUIRY.; The*report of the inquiry into the Hosp'i* tal m-tn/igement .exonerates the Steward and Matron from' the charges brought, I against them, and recommends that the nurse and two warders who.laid the charges should be discharged • that v evidence has been adduced to show that the institution w»s disorganised, and with the objict :bf thorough reorganisation,"' that the Matron j and Steward be allowed the privilege of resigning. ' The, report, was •abmilted' : to . .the. Colonial Secretary this morning/and rwili'be entirely endorsed. f