ACCIDENT TO THE ROTOMAHANA.

Patea Mail, Volume IX, Issue 1069, 6 August 1883, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO THE ROTOMAHANA.

ON THE WAIPAPA REEF. NARROW ESCAPE. • (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) j ' BLUFF, August 4. The Rotomahana has justjarrived. At twenty minutes to four this morning she struck the Waipapa Point about the same place as the Tatarua, bumped several times, and remained on the rocks about half ah hour. The sea was smooth fortunately, and as the tide made she floated off and came on. ,She is making no water, but an examination of her propeller shows that two blades were carried away and two pieces broken off the other blade. They cannot examine the bottom

here, consequently she will return to Port Chalmers. She is at present discharging cargo, and will take nothing in. Very fine weather has doubtless prevented a repetition of the Tararua disaster. Further Particulai’S. The survey held on the Rotomahana shows no perceptible damage, except that the propeller is broken. The accident happened at a quarter to four. The vessel was then supposed to be entering the middle of Foveaux Strait, about four miles clear of land, steering a course to >0 cleat.-:Waipap a .When the vessel ’struck, the second mate was in charge on the bridge.; The; rilght'Jwas clear, but there was a haze oyer the land, with a light ' Wm(f,“ but Heavy ‘ roll from southward. She struck about a mile and a half off the land and remained there an hour, bumping lightly. The. engines were put full speed astern without moving her, and full speed ahead was then tried with the same result. Then a heavy swell rolled in, and made her bump once very heavily. Then a second swell lifted her off the rocks and she steamed clear. The boats were all got ready, and life belts served out to the crew arid passengers, although the steerage passengers complained that no life-belts were in the steerage, and several had to go down into the saloon and take out a saloon beiili complete. There was perfect order on hoard, and Captain Carey was quite master of the situation, ordering everything to be done without confusion. The sea was quite smooth, with a heavy swell, but no break. The Otara reef was visible outside the position of the vessel, as. well, as between ; her and the shore. She sails for Port Chalmers at 3 p.m. The southerly swell throughout the night, and the strong spring flood tide, it is surmised, set her further in shore than was expected.

■ t :A ANOTHER VERSION; ■ A telegram from Dunedin gives a different story. From it we learn that , Captain Carey was in charge, the second mate, Mr Gieshaw, being on the look-out. Mr Greshaw telegraphed to the master to “ stop,” .and while the engines were going astern the vessel struck. She came off .and getting into deep water, waited for daylight before going on her voyage. All speak highly of the conduct of Captain Carey and the crew, while the passengers behaved exceedingly well in what must have been a trying time.