THE TONGARIRO WRECK.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 2 September 1916, Page 7

THE TONGARIRO WRECK.

SALVAGE DIFFICULTIES. Per Association. Wellington, September 1. The local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company was advised to-night that the salvage of the Tongariro's cargo presents a grave difficulty owing to the fact that no steamer is able to lie alongside. All ili<- goods must be moved by hand and transferred to surf boats. No power Is available on the ship. Fifty-one packages of bullion were saved, also the live slock, consisting of a bitch tvnd five pups consigned to Wellington, and a crate of canaries for Lyttelton. A peculiar position has arisen affecting the crew owing to the fact thai the vessel's articles are still on board. Mosl of lho crew are in Wellington, and want to go to new jobs, but cannot sign on another ship till they sign off the Tongariro. The articles are expected here by next Tuesday. If the sea keeps calm it is hoped that good progress will be made with the salvage, but if the weather comes up from the north or east the ship may slip off into deep water. Several small steamers are engaged in lightering operations.

LIGHTERINC OPERATIONS DISCONTINUED. Xapier, September 1. The To Aroha arrived at 11 p.m. from the wreck, bringing a petty officer and son•■■ of the crew. The captain, chief officer, 'and chief engineer remain on the scene. A member of the crew states that the vessel was travelling at twelve knots when she. struck between three rocks, and is now sinking slowly. The sea is rising, and the vessel is expected to slip off or break up' by the end of the week. There is a big split right down from the bow. The slant in the deck has increased, and the water is now over the starboard side. Lightering operations have ceased, owing to the rough sea, the engineroom and some of the holds being flooded, so that no cargo can be salvaged. It would be useless, as it is spoilt in any ease. Vessels arc stiii standing by.

PREVIOUS WRECKS IN VICINITY. Several vessels have been lost on the New Zealand coast in the vicinity of Gisborno and .Napier, the most important being:— The Huddart-Parker steamer Tasmania, which struck a submerged object outside the Gisborne roadstead and foundered 20 years ago. The fine steamer Star of Canada, which dragged her anchors during a heavy gale in the Gisborne roadstead on June 24, 15)12, and became a total wreck.