The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1868. THE WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 197, 21 August 1868, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1868. THE WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

By the courtesy of Captain Kennedy of the s.s. Airedale, and of Mr Nancarrow, Inspector of Steamers, we are enabled to place before our readers the following particulars of this sad event: — . It appears that the Taranaki left Wellington at 1.25 p.m. on Wednesday last. Whilst entering Tory Channel an extraordinarily strong tide, with strong eddies, running at the time, the ship suddenly veered round, and, before her way could be stopped, struck on the Boat Harbor Rock, over which the water was breaking the tide being at quarter flood. She struck the rock abreast of the engineroom, knocking a large hole in that compartment of the vessel. She immediately became unmanageable, in consequence of the loss of her propeller, and commenced drifting up the Sound, making considerable water in tbe engineroom and afterhold, for in about half-an-hour after she struck there were 7 feet ot water iu the engine compartment, and 4 feet in the afterhold. Capt. Francis at once ordered tbe boats to be lowered, and ali the passengers were lauded on the beach, immediatelg with as much of their luggage as could be got at, together with all the mails, with the exception of a few paper packets. We regret to learn that some of the passengers have been considerable sufferers by the wreck, from the loss of property which could not be removed from the steamer. Tbe boats then endeavored to tow the steamer into Worser's (or Bowden's) Bay, in order to beach her there, the passengers taking their place at the oars, and contributing their best energies to the task. We are told that the Bishop of Lichfield with his son and Lord Burleigh were particularly noticeable in their endeavors to save the vessel by these means, working bravely, until, on their arrival opposite the Bay, it was perceive'd that she was fast settling down, aud iu rounding the point of the Bay she touched on a shoal, almost immediately going down, stern foremost, in about 12 fathoms of water, where she now lies, very near the land. The passengers, nearly 100 in number, were at first landed at the various beaches near the place where the vessel struck, some at a distance of as much as three miles off, but a large number eventually reached Mr Bowden's station where they were very hospitably received, Bishop Selwyn bringing down provisions and blankets to those who remained on the beach. A whaleboat was at once sent off by Mr Allen, a director of the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company, (who happened to be on board) accompanied by Mr Nancarrow, and the purser also, to Picton, a distance of 20 miles, and immediately on its arrival there, a telegram was transmitted to Wellington, stating what had occurred. The telegraph office at Wellington was just closing when the message arrived, but the news was at once forwarded to the Government and to the New Zealand Steam Navigation Company's Office, and arrangements were made by the Government that the Airedale should be immediately dispatched to the relief of the passengers, and also, if available, to that of the Taranaki. Messages were sent to Mr Nancarrow at Picton, who forwarded them to tbe shipwrecked passengers, stating that the Airedale would be sent to their assistance in the morning. The Airedale had been laid up for her halfyearly inspection and overhaul ; the cylinder covers had been taken off, the pistons and connecting rods removed, and the firebars and bridges, &c, shifted, besides being moored with 60 fathoms of cable ; yet, although orders to get ready were only given at halfpast 11 on Wednesday night, so rapidly were the preparations carried but, that she left the wharf at Wellington for the scene of the disaster with her steam up at 20 minutes to 4, on the following morning, and having reached Worser'a, Bay soon after day

dawn, at once took on board the passengers with the mails and luggage. ~ It seems that the Airedale twice steamed over the sunken vessel, without auy vestige of her being apparent, and it seems probable that she must have at once heeled over, and that she is now lying on her side, the bottom being, very precipitous. We regret to add that but faint hopes are entertained of her recovery. A preliminary enquiry under the Wrecks Act, 1863.[was commenced at Pic ton yesterday, before Mr Allen, Collector of Customs, and Mr Duncan J.P., and severul witnesses (passengers) were examined. The enquiry was adjourned, aud will now be completed at Wellington, where the examination of the officers and crew will be made. We learn that Captain Francis remained with his officers on board the illfated steamer until within a few minutes before she went down. Much sympathy is felt for Captain Francis, who is generally respected as a skilled and careful commander. We purposely abstain from offering any comments on the immediate cause of the disaster, which will, doubtless, be ascertained at the enquiry. An address of sympathy signed by the Bishop of Lichfield, Lord Burleigh, and all the cabin passengers, was presented to Captain Francis", before the Airedale left Picton. A" large concourse of persons assembled on the wharf as well to witness the arrival of the Airedale, a3 to ascertain authentic particulars of the wreck, and hearty were tbe congratulations which passed between the passengers and their Nelson friends. Conspicuous amongst the former were the Bishop of Lichfield and ■New Zealand, who, with his family and Lord Burleigh, a very favorable specimen of the English aristocracy, were speedily recognised by the Right Rev. Bishop Suter and his clergy and many others, who bad assembled to greet them. It will be seen from an advertisement in another column that a special thanksgiving service wili be held this evening at Christchurch, at which the Bishop of Lichfield will be present, and will probably address the congregatiou. It may be noticed, as a singular coincidence in connection with this event, that we are informed, on good authority, that Bishop Selwyn arrived here on this very day (21st August) twenty-six years ago, in the Government brig Victoria.