The Loss of the Tararua.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 941, 7 May 1881, Page 2

The Loss of the Tararua.

Very Latesjfarticulars. Christchurch. The s.s. Taiaroahas on board Antonio Michalioff, the late cook of the illfated steamer Tararua, and Edward Johnstone, one of the A.B.’s. A reporter interviewed them this morning, but they could noi give any further particulars than those already published, except that they corroborate the probability of the body found, being Dr. Campbell’s eldest child. Michalioff is on his way to Wellington, w’here he has some friends. Mr. Bailey, the steward, has a pipe that was presented to Mr. Jones, the purser, in Melbourne. It wus w ashed ashore, and picked up by one of the steerage passengers, that the Hawea took on to Dunedin. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Jones sailed together for years. Antonio Michalioff, who swam bravely for his own life, and tried to rescue a girl, states that the Captain got all the ladies out of the smokinghouse to the forecastle head, all being there till 2.30, when a sea w'ashed them off. The Captain displayed coolness to the lastj His exclamation when all hope was lost was: “ Oh God ! what shall we do now.” The steamer soon settled down. THE WESLEYAN MINISTERS. In accordance with the provisions which form a portion of the system which obtains in the Wesleyan Church, the widows of the Rev. Messrs’ Richardson and Armitage and their families will remain in their parsonage homes for one year, and will be paid the stipends that would, in the usual course of events, have accrued to their late husbands during that period. At the year’s expiration the annual pension to be paid to Mrs. Richardson will be nearly £6O, and for each of her children (of whom there are five)

under sixteen years of age, an annual sum of eight guineas w’ill be paid, making a total of about £IOO a-year. In the case of Mrs. Armitage the provision is not to be so large, her late hushaving joined the Wesleyan ministry at a comparatively recent date. LOST WITH HIS MONEY!!! A passenger by the ill-fated Tararua named John Gowden, who is numbered with the lost, was en route fo?*London with the intention of being united in marriage with a lady to whom he had been engaged for some time prior to his departure. It is related that he called at one of the Banks and asked the rates of commission they would charge for the transmission of £4OO to London. He, however, ultimately determined to save the charge, and accordingly bought a gold digger’s belt, carefully stowing the amount in sovereigns therein, and tvearing the belt constantly. The result of his penuriousness is fhat the whole stfm has gone to the bottom, whilst had it* been sent Home in the usual way his relatives would benefitted by it, ESCAPES. The Times says : —“ there were some people who were fortunate enough to escape taking passages in the Tararua, either by accident or change of intention. It has already been mentioned that a passenger named Rogers missed his passage at Port Chalmers, and a gentleman who came here by the Tararua from Auckland informed us that just as she was leaving the wharf a cab drove rapidly up with several passengers who were too late to get on board. They will probably be thankful ,tha£ they were not a few minutes earlier. Mr. W. Wood, the well-known miller of Christchurch, also contemplated going to Melbourne in the Tararua, but fortunately determined to wait for a faster boat. Miss Jenny Nye, the well-known actress, who is now in Dunedin, had her luggage packed ready to leave for Victoria, and was stopped at the last moment by a telegram from Mr. Shepperson offering her an engagement with his company about to open here.” THE LYTTELTON PASSENGERS There were 36 passengers from Lyttleton that are known to have been on board. Hall is the only one saved besides Laurence, who was goinw to the Bluff. S. C. Gilham was one of a number of brothers, who own a large estate in the Mackenzie Countv, South Canterbury. Several others came from Rangiora. THE NEWS IN CHRISTCHURCH The excitement in Christchurch was like that of the election time. The papers absolutely could not be printed fast enough on Saturday to suppiy the people, though an extra' had been previously issued and sold by thousands. Allusion was made to the Tararua disaster in the services at the principal churches. The flags in town were hoisted half-mast. Dr. Campbell was on a pleasure trip to England. The whole of his family perished with him. The Rev. J. Armitage leaves a wife and eight children the Rev. J. Waterhouse a wife and seven children ; E. Conn al leaves one son ; E. Mitchell leaves a w’ife and daughter. Dunedin. v Reference was made in all the city pulpits yesterday to the Tararua disaster. Wellington. The wreck of the Tararua was referred to in the various Wesleyan Churches yesterday, and special prayers were offered for the bereaved ones. Garton has beeu identified as groom to Dr. Cotterill, of Invercargill. At the inquest the verdict w’as “bound drowned.” The jury added a rider that a light should be placed on Waipapa Point, as three vessels have been wrecked there. Captain Garrard has a n?krried sister in Christchurch, a brother in Wellington, and a brother in Nelson. BRINGING THE BODIES TO DUNEDIN. . Dunedin. 1 he s.s. Rakanui will call at Fort Rose and Waikawa, on Saturday next to bring the bodies to Dunedin. The bodies not claimed by friends will be interred at the Cmpany’a expense, lhe wreck will be sold on Friday. A THAMES BOY. The Thames Advertiser savs • “ Mao ‘7 son of Mrs tL Hit- a j d \ - Was en " a ß ed board the ill-fated ship as a steward’s assistant, and it is feared that he is the bov referred torn the telegrams as drowned through the capsizing of one of the

ship’s boats on the reef, when attempting to find a landing. Mrs. Haymes is a widow,” % THE CLOSING SCENE. After night came on, cries were heard on shore, then cheers, as a light, supposed to be the Kakanui, was seen. Then there was a great crash, and then only the rolling of the surf broke on the night air. At daylight the steamer was seeirto have heeled over gradually. Portions of the spars were visible. The Hawea, Kakanui, and Prince Rupert were in the offing. The latter picked up the second mate’s boat. The total rescued is 20. A portion of the mail bag has been picked up at sea, and one child’s body, by the Kakanui, DESPERATE BATTLE fob LIFE. Those on shore declare that it was heart rending to see the terrible tragedy being enacted and feel their owa inability to help. Two brave swimmers battled for life with a plank. One was a splendid swimmer, and left the plank at the edge of the surf. He came in with a roller, and was seen struggling within a few yards, when he was taken out by the back drift. The men landed almost naked. The reef extends 7 miles out. CAPTAIN GARRARD. Captain Garrard was one of the most popular officers in the employ ~ of the Union Steamship Company. He arrived in Wellington about five years ago as 2nd officer of an English vessel and since that time he has served the Union Company. He has; however, been very unfortunate of late. When the Taupo went ashore at Tauranga, he was chief officer on board. He was subsequently appointed to the command of the Albion, and it will be remembered that some months ago that steamer ran down the schooner Isabella Pratt near Cape Colville. Immediately after the enquiry, Capt. Garrard was placed on the Tararua, and this change was signalised by another mishap, the steamer colliding with the wharf and carrying a portion of it away. This was however considered to be purely accidental. The terrible catastrophe which has sent such a thrill through the colony furnishes the final chapter to Captain Garrard’s career. He was considered to be clever, competent, and brave, and from the statements of the survivors it would appear that he was calm and collected after the vessel struck, and gave necessary orders for the saving of the lives of the passengers. It is said that he was to have married a Victorian lady of considerable means shortly, and that he contemplated giving up a seafaring life.