THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8839, 15 June 1907, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

Further Details. Per PreM AsEdblation.

I New Plymouth, June 14. f The Kia Ora ran on a reef about one milo off shore, and sank In 20 minutes. The second officer was on the watch at foe time Of the mishap. The women and children were got oil safely in the first lifeboat, but the port boat was smashed to atoms wheri she was .'launched. . 1 The crew and male passengers took refuge wherever possible. The steamer, commencing to gradually slip back off the reef on to which she had wuled, suddenly parted amidships, and nearly everyone was thrown""or washed overboard. . A raft released itself, and on this eleven crowded, and sis made their way to the . boat. • - |', The captain was standing by the funnel , a fireman and a seaman, and before the final break-up he accepted a lifebelt from the fiieman (Symes) and said, " Goodfcyo," He was not seen again. The boat and, the raft jointly effected a funding five miles south of the wreck, matches and tabloids 61 food being found intact in sealed packages on the boat and {he raft. Food from the Marakopo settlers reached the survivors at 3 o'clock this morning and at daylight all mado their way along the coast through heavy scrub to a Maori settler's, where the majority jrrivod just as the Barawa anchored and her boat effected a landing with a doctor through the surf under great difficulty. He found one o£ the passengers with a leg broken, who was picked up by the raft and carried with great difficulty, and several had sustained minor injuries, j Att were attended to by Dr "Wylie. 1 Extreme difficulty was experienced xn relaunching- the lifeboat: Mine of the strongest of the crew brought it aboard the Barawa and wore brought to New I Plymouth, which was reached at 9 o'clock. The survivors on shore are being kindly attended to by settlers and are in no Immediate danger. A heavy swell coming tip prevented further attempts to land being made. , . All the crew except the captain are safe, fjut no'authentic news could be got regard- j "mg the names of the passengers. The second steward says there were 35 | sboaid, and only 27 accounted for. In that case eight are missing, but there is a possibility that some of these may have 1 feade the shon at other points. |