THE TARANAKI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5518, 3 December 1878, Page 2

THE TARANAKI.

(PER PRESS AGENCr.) Taubanga, Monday. A preliminary investigation into the loss of the Taranaki was held this afternoon privately before Mr. McKellar, Collector of Customs, and Mr. Marks, Harbor-master. Neither the public nor the Press were admitted. An official inquiry will probably take place on Wednesday or Thursday before Mr. Brabant, the 8.M., and others. The wreck can only be accounted for by the supposition that a st ; s current set inward. On the previous voyage the ship steered a point more towards the land. The follow ing account of the wreck has been supplied by Captain Malcolm, and is the only rea T ’y correct one : The Taranaki left Auckland on Thursday afternoon, and anchored the same night at a quarter to twelve between Great Mercury and Takape Point; Jay there till 3 a.m. The morning was fine but hazy. She passed through the Hole-in-the-Wall at 4 a.m. ; was abreast Slipper Island at 5.50 a.m., at which time the patent leg was put over. Shortly after a fog set in heavily, and on account of the thick weather the vessel was kept a quarter point off land, that is to east, and a sharp look-out kept; at 8.5 a.m., distance run, according to log, 20 miles, which would leave the vessel 12 miles from Karewa at 8.50. I was standing on the budge, when I suddenly saw a white fringe of breakers. I instantly gave the signal “full speed astern/' and had the helm put hard a-starboard ; the look-out man shouted “ breakers ahead," and X saw land looming up before us. I immediately cried out “ clear away boats." The ship then struck. As near as I can judge about three minutes elapsed between the time of my observing breakers and the ship striking; there wrs hardly any way on her. According to both log and engines we ought to have been at least four or five miles from Karewa. After striking tho ship slid over the rocks, grating. I am of opinion that had she got another length ahead after the engines were reversed we should have escaped. The engineer now reported that the sea was coming into the engine-room, so I gave orders to go slowly ahead, in order to prevent sinking in deep water. Boats were lowered at once. In five minutes the first was alongside, and in twenty minutes all were ready, Some little delay occurred in getting the after starboard boat into the water, because of the vessel heeling over heavily to port. A ll the passengers were landed, and the mate with a boat’s crew was despatched to Tauranga by 10. CO. Mr. Gillon went ashore in the first boat, and at the request of the chief officer took charge of the grog and provisions. On the whole the passengers behaved very well, the ladies especially showing great courage. In the afternoon the crew worked hard saving luggage and mails, and they were heartily assisted by the passengers. As the ship had by this time heeled over to an angle of 45degs., and as the water was up to the combings of the hatchway on the port side, the job proved very troublesome. A little boy named Westlake did good service by climbing through the port and saving much valuable luggage, and at low water some of the crew managed to get into tho saloon and save the linen, silver, &c. About 4 p.m. two cutters hove in sight, and as there was no water on the island I gave orders for the passengers to embark in the boats with a view of putting them on board. Before this could be done, however, the Staffa turned up, and after loading the rescued luggage all were sent to Tautanga. I stayed on board the Taranaki till 4 p.m., and, together with tho crew, did not leave the scene of the wreck till 8 o’clock the next morning, by which time she had divided in two. As nothing more could be done I ordered one of the cutters to cruise about for floating packages, and several were picked up.