WRECK OF THE IMMIGRANT SHIP CITY OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5484, 24 October 1878, Page 2

WRECK OF THE IMMIGRANT SHIP CITY OF AUCKLAND.

When the information was published in our extra yesterday, at midday, of the wreck of the City of Auckland, it was received with much surprise throughout the town. An effort was made by us to furnish a list of passengers, but no such list was furnished either in the Home News or in the European Mail. The only information wo obtained was that tire vessel left London on July 13, and passed Deal on the 14th. Weunderstand that she called at Plymouth, and was detained there until the 23th. Wo draw attention to the fact that the bulk of her passengers must have been on board for about 112 days or more, because it may throw some light upon tlie disaster. A ship containing a largo number of immigrants grows rapidly lighter on the voyage. The water in the tanks is also generally allowed to run low when a ship nears her destination, and the consumption of provisions by nearly 300 people. soon makes a great difference in the draught of a ship. The lighter a vessel is the more’ leeway she makes in beating against a foul wind, and the less sail she can carry when trying to beat off a lee shore. Wc believe that this fact may have had a good deal to do with the loss of the City of Auckland. A great many hypotheses have been mooted to account for tho series of wrecks that have recently occurred near Otaki, among others it has bean suggested that some occult influence may be exorcised by iron-sand or other causes upon the compasses, or some lights of a house inland may have been mistaken for a lighthouse, &c. The real reason seems probably to be that the land is low and flat, and therefore not readily observable, and that the heavy gales have caught several ships at a disadvantage. As soon as the news of the wreck of the City of Auckland reaohel Wellington, Captain Fairchild, upon his own responsibility, ordered steam to be got up on board the Hinemoa, and waited upon Captain Johnston for instructions. The latter gentleman obtained the necessary authority from the Commissioner of Customs, and it was arranged for the Hinemoa ta leave at noon. ■ Meanwhile Captain Hose, the Wellington manager for tho New Zealand Shipping Company (by which firm tlie City of Auckland is chartered) made active preparations for rendering ail possible assistance, obtaining a gang of men from the Rakaia, aud also an additional life-boat for the purpose of aiding in rescuing the passengers aud crew it necessary. The City of Auckland was built at Sunderland, iu 1869, and is therefore nine years old. She is composite-built, 780 tons register, and owned by Mr. George S. Simpson, of 9, Clement’s-lane, London. Tho various telegrams received will be found in another column, but the latest news is satisfactory, as it is said that all cargo can be saved, aud tbo vessel floated. We hear that the Hinemoa met with such a heavy sea' outside the Heads that she was unable to proceed towards her destinatien, aud therefore hovo-to under Kapiti. A large portion of the cargo js said to have been for Auckland, and tho insurance, so far as yet known, will fall heavily upon tile Now Zealand Insurance office, the cargo being insured for £3BOO iu it, Captain Bendall leaves to-morrow morning on behalf of the associated insurance companies. Immigrants may elect to remain at Wellington or to proceed to Napier after their arrival here. Many of them will probably bo put to considerable inconvenience through the loss of their clothing. A subscription list will, no doubt, soon bo circulated for the relief of the sufferers, but at present the extent of their loss is not known. . • (fttOM A OOtiIIESPONUENT.) - Otaki, Wednesday. The City of Auckland ran ashore last night about 9 p.m. She was from London bound to Napier with immigrants and railway material. She ran ashore about' twenty chains north of the Otnkl River. There are 240 immigrants, without tho crew. Nearly all the passengers ara ashore. There is no danger at present. They arc going to have tile use of the College here. All tlie Europeans and natives are assisting iu getting them ashore. Great excitement prevails. She is about forty chains from the wreck of the late Felixstowe. Jenkins and crew aro managing one boat, aud the ship a crew another, getting the passengers ashore. She is about bows on to the beach. (Teh press agenov.l Otaki, Wednesday, 12.15 p.m. The ship City of Auckland, from Loudon, bound for Napier, with railway material and 240 adult immigrants, is stranded near the mouth of the Otaki River. Tho vessel came ashore about nine o’clock last night in a heavy north-west gale. Great excitement appears to prevail amongst the passengers, who are throwing boxes, Ac., overboard. The lifeboat came ashore iu charge of tho second mate, and every endeavor to land the passengers is being made. The residents of Otaki are making every atrangemont for their reception, and traps and Cobb's coach are on the beach waiting to drive them to the township. The beach is lined with natives hauling up the wreckage. 3.16 p.m. The City of Auckland lies about 20 chains north of tho Otaki River, and about 40 chains from the wreck of tlie Felixstowe. About halt tho passengers are now ashore, and at present there is no" danger to life. Jenkins, tho pilot, and crew, are busy getting passengers ashore. The ships' boats and crew are also busy in tho same way. AU tho immigrants are going to be lodged in the College, at Otaki. J. Rolls, captain of' tho City of Auckland, telegraphs to the New Zealand Shipping Co.: —“City Auckland, ashore hero. Everybody landed. Ail safe. • Waiting instructions.” _ The City of Auckland is stem on. It is a good beach. All the cargo can Joe saved, ana the vessel-floated. “

THE GOVERNMENT PRESS AGENCY, •23rcl October, IS7S. Sir,—We have the honor to request that yon will move the Hon. the Commissioner of Telegraphs to allow us the use of a special wire between Auckland and Invercargill, on the same terms and during the same hours as have been allowed (according to papers recently laid on the table of the House of Representatives) to Messrs. Reeves, Horton, and Reed. Wo feel sure that this application will be materially strengthened by the assurances reported to have been given yesterday in bis place in Parliament by the Hon. Mr. Stout, via., “The Press Agencyoranyothorpaper could get the same terms”—and by the Hon. Mr. Fisher that “ there was not to be a monopoly.” If our request be acceded to, we guarantee that every paper, without any exception, for which the special wire will be available, shall participate in its use ou equal terras.—We have, &c., Holt & McCarthy. The General Manager Telegraph Department. New Zealand Telegraph, Head Office, Wellington, October 23,1878. GenPemen.—l am directed by tho Hon, the Telegraph Commissioner to acknowlege the receipt of year letters dated Uth and 23rd October respectively, asking for tho vise of a special wire, and in reply to inform you that the Commissioner will bo prepared to grant you the use of a special wire upon the same “conditions and terms” as those offered to Messrs. Horton, Reed, and others, a “copy” of which I enclose for yourinformation.—l have. kc, t ~ „ , 0. L**mon, General Manager. Messrs. Holt and McCarthy, Proprietors I’ress Agency, Wellington. New Zealand Telegraph, Head Office, Wellington, September 21. 1873, Gentlemen,—lamdirectedbr the Hon the Telegraph Commissioner to acknowledge the receipt of yourletter of tho 14th September inst, offering to lease a special wire from Invercargill to Auckland for Press purposes, and to pay tor the same £1750 per annum for a period of two ye.ara, in accordance with the conditions stated hereunder 1. That the wire should ho placed at your disposal every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during tho recess from 8 p.ra. to 1 a.m., and during tire session of Parliament extended on the above days to 2 a ra„ and on Saturdays aud Sundays all the year round from 7 p.ra, to 10 p.m, and 6 p.m. to 7 p.in. respectively. 2. That if a second special wire is hereafter leased to any other association or newspaper upon more favorable terms for a night service than those which may be granted to you, a corresponding concession to be made you, 3. That on tho condition of the contracting parties to the arrangement accepting tho entire responsibility of fcbe contract, they shall be at liberty In accordance with the terms and conditions of the contract to make such arrangements as they please with any other journal or journals joining the association, so long as it -8 made a mutual association, and not used for purposes of pecuniary profit, 4. That the operator at the Bluff shall be In attendance a few hours during each month when Australian steamers arc expected (this office at those times to be terminal of the special wire arrangement, and to be open only at such times). In reply, I am directed by the Hon. the Telegraph Commissioner to inform you that the Government have given your offer their careful consideration, and have desired me to offer you tho following terras: — la. The annual payment to be two thousand pounds per annum, payable quarterly. 2a. The currency of the contract to extend over two years, dating from Ist January, 1879. 3«. That the stations shall be open at Invercargill, Dunedin, Oamaru, Timaru, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier, and Auckland as per paragraph No. 1 of tine letter, and at Bluff as per paragraph No. 4 of this letter. ia. That in the event of any of the above offices being directed to supply more than one newspaper in each town with a copy of tho Press work of each night, that each extra copy shall bo charged for at the rate of ss. per night for each copy bo supplied. 5. Should it be found at any time during the currency of the contract that the contractors are not carrying out tli • conditions of the contract, the department shall, after due inquiry, have the power at once to discontinue and put an end to the contract at the termination of the then current quarter without giving any compensation for so doing. 6. That up to 10 p.m. of each night (week days) during the currency of the contract, the department will deliver to each newspaper tho telegrams un they arrive ; but after 10 p.m. the newspapers will have to fetch their own telegrams, and In order to facilitate matters the department will at its own expens* place each newspaper office in telegraphic communication with its tolcgtaph office, and signal by bell to the newspaper office when a message or slip is ready for delivery. 7. That in the event of the department being compelled to take possession of the special wire through the other wires being out of order, an allowance will bo made to the contractors based on the payment to the department. Clauses Nos. 2 and 3of this letter, embodying clauses Nos. 5 and 0 of yourletter of the 29th August ulfc., the Government agree to, In conclusion, should t*>o above conditions meet your approval, the Commissioner directs mo to Inform you that on bearing from you to that effect he will instruct the Law Officers of the Crown to prepare a bond for your joint signature.—l have, &c. (Signed) O. Lemon. General Manager, Mr. G M. Reed and others, Wellington.