WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 823, 3 December 1878, Page 2

WRECK OF THE TARANAKI.

Tauranga, December 2. A preliminary investigation into the loss of the Taranaki was held this afternoon, privately, before Mr. M'Kellar, Collector of Customs, and Captain Marks, Harbor Master. Neither the public nor the Press were admitted. The official enquiry will probably take place on Wednesday or Thursday, before Mr. Brabant, P.M., and others. The wreck can only be accounted for by the supposition that a stiff current had set inward. On the previous voyage the ship steered a point more towards the land. The following account of the wreck has been supplied by« Captain Malcolm :—The Taranaki left Auckland on Thursday afternoon, and anchored the same night, at a quarter to twelve, between Great Mercury and Takape Point. Lay there till 3 next morning. The weather was then fine, but hazy. Passed through the Hole in the Wall at 4 a.m. Was abreast of Slipper Island at 5.50 a. m., at which time the patent log was put over. Shortly after a fog set in heavily. On account of the thick weather the vessel was kept a quarter point off the land, that is to east, and a sharp look-out was kept. At 8.5 a. m. the distance run according to tho log was 20 miles, which would leave the vessel 12 miles from Karewa. At 5.50 I was standing on the bridge, when suddenly I saw a white fringe of breakers. I instantly gave the signal, "Full speed astern," and when put hard a port, the look-out man shouted "Breakers ahead," and I saw the land looming up before us. I immediately cried out " Clear away the boats." The ship then struck. As near as I can judge, about three minutes elapsed between the time of my observing the breakers and the ship striking. There was hardly any way on her. According to both log and engines, we must have been four or five miles from Karewa. Before striking, tho ship grated over the rocks. lam of opinion that had she gone 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. The boats were lowered at once. In five minutes the first was alongside, and in twenty 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. All the passengers were landed, and the mate with a boat's crew dispatched to Tauranga by 10-30. 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. As the ship had by this time heeled over to an angle of 45, and as the water was up to the combings of the liatchway on the port side, tho job proved very troublesome. A little boy namotl Wcsilako did good service by climbing through the port-hole and saving much valuable luggage, and at low water some of the crew managed to get into the saloon and save the linen, silver, &e. 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 the view of putting them on board. Before this could be done, the Staffa turned up, and after loading the rescued luggage, all were sent to Tauranga. I stayed on board the Taranaki till 4 p.m., and, together with the crew, did not leave the scene of the wreck till 8 o'clock next morning, by which time she had divided in two, and nothing more could" be done. I ordered one of the cutters to cruise about for floating packages, and several were qicked up.