DIVING AT THE WRECK OF THE TARARUA.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1069, 4 May 1882, Page 4

DIVING AT THE WRECK OF THE TARARUA.

The Fortrose correspondent of the Otago Daily Times, writes : —“ I regret having to report the failure to recover the bullion, Ac., by the diving party at the scene of the wreck of the s.s. Tararua. The efforts of the party have been strenuous, and have extended over nine months. It appears that the divers have found the bottom to be quite clear of sand and composed of rocks, boulders, and beach, with a considerable amount of kelp or seaweed to contend with ; in fact, the description given of the course of the track made by the steamer when coming upon the reef is compared by the diver to a lane enclosed by a 12-foot hedge of keif, and this was found to retard operations so mueh, in consequence of its becoming entangled about the air-tube, that a knife was needed constantly at hand to cut the weed and free the tube. The course of the vessel was traced for some distance by this, and when found she was in two distinct portions. These have since become so much broken up that the debris appears to cover nearly an acre of the bottom. The store-room was found to be covered by a portion of the deck. This, in consequence of the girders or beams of the deck being of iron, had settled down so closely that dynamite has had to be used to remove it. I hear some rice, brandy, &c., have been seen about where the store-room was situated, aud some lemonade was recovered, which, after being taken to Mr C. Brunton’s station was found to be quite undamaged by its long submersion ; but nothing of any value has been recovered. After the fine clear weather and calm sea for the past week, the men appear to have decided that any further efforts are useless, as, if anything was to be done it could then have been effected.”