[From the Post.]

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 187, 5 August 1873, Page 2

[From the Post.]

By the arrival of the s.s. Wellington, at 4 o'clock this evening, we are placed in possession of the sad intelligence of the total loss of the fine steamer Rangitoto on her passage from Nelson to this port. A few minutes in advance of the Wellington she left Nelson yesterday afc a quarter before one p.m., and passing through the Freuch Passage, was off Jackson's Point, at the entrance of Queen Charlotte's Sound at about hnlf-past six, being about half an hour behind the s.s. Wellington. Captaiu Mackie having been at his post night and day since the arrival of the steamer at Hokitika, had turned in after making the narrow passage, the steamer being in charge of tho chief officer. Off Jackson's Point there is a rock about a quarter of a mile distant, between which aod the point it is usual for tbe steamer to pass. Unfortunately, the point was hugged too closely, aud the steamer struck on the reef, bumping heavily four or five times. The sea was quite calm at the time she passed over the reef, but the bottom of the vessel having been stove iv, the fires were almost immediately extinguished, and it was found she was muking water at. the rate of almost, a foot a minute. Orders were promptly given to drive her ashore, and she had barely sufficient steam to effect this, which was perhaps the salvation of every life on board. The place at which she was beached was surmounted by inaccessible rocks, seven or eight hundred feet high, the bows resting on a ledge of rocks and the stern floating in deep water. The boats were at once lowered, and though there was great excitement on hoard, especially among tho large number ot ladies and children, the greatest order prevailed. Mr Nancarrow aud the second mate with a boat's crew at once started to meet the Wellington, expected on her return down the Sound from Pieton, and through the agency of blue lights succeeded in being picked up by tbe steamer, which pi-oceeded promptly to the scene of lhe disaster. Meantime two boats, filled chiefly with ladies and children, fifty-six in all, after lying by the ship for four hours, had proceeded up the Sound, landing at Mr. Turner's station after midnight, where, after devotional exercises conducted by the Rev Mr Kininraonl, ascribing thanks to Almighty God for their deliverance, and praying for the safety of those atill on the wreck, the castaways were entertained with extreme kindness by Mr. Turner and his family, of whose gratuitous and unremitting attention to their comfort during the night the passengers speak with the warmest feelings of gratitude. On the arrival of the Wellington at the wreck, attention was drawn by the firing of a gun and the burning of blue lights on the Rangitoto ; and shortly after two boats came off from the wreck containing one lady and children, and the others who had not found room in the boats seeking refuge up the Sound, The Wellington approaching as closely as safety admitted to the wreck, the boats of both steamers were busy all the night in saving, the mails, passengers' baggage, and no inconsiderable portion of cargo, Captain Carey and his officers vicing with Mr Blackwood, who was on board the ill-fated steamer, and his staff, in the most strenuous efforts to rescue from the waves everything that it was possible to save. As day dawned the unfortunate steamer appeared as if sitting on an even keel, closely wedged in against a sheer precipice toweriog overhead, but the heaving of the aft part of the ship showed her liability to slide over iuto deep water. The efforts to save everything possible continued unabated till half-past 8 this morning, at which hour, leaving men still aboard removing goods to the boats, the Wellington steamed up the Sound to the Little Cove, known as the scene of the wreck of the Marchioness, schooner, where, at Mr Turner's homestead, the castaways had been earnestly awaiting relief and deliverance. Shortly afte r this they were taken ou board, and the Wellington steamed down to the wreck, off which she lay for about balf-an-hour, until the unfortunate steamer went slowly down by the stfrn, the crew on hoard, with considerable difficulty, after hoisting a signal of distress, caving themselves by making their boats. The crew having been taken on hoard, the Wellington,crowded with herliving freight, steamed away from the scene of the disaster for this port at about half-past seven o'clock, and the last seen of the ill-fated Rangitoto was that with stern and hull three-fourths submerged she still clung to

the ledge of rock with her bows, while tho surfaco of tho sea all around was covered with floating cargo oi every conceivable kind by the breaking up of her decks. The position, though inside the corner of Jackson's Point, is exceedingly exposed, and the shifting of the wind is likely to soon make disappear all that now remains above tho surface of the sea of the beautiful and favorite, but ill-fated Rangitoto.