THE CAPTAIN ABANDONS THE SHIP.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 28, 15 December 1883, Page 5

THE CAPTAIN ABANDONS THE SHIP.

The Underwriters Refuse to Take Her. At the conclusion of the consultation yesterday morning, it was known that the captain had decided to abandon the steamer to the Underwriters. He made an otfer to that effect this morning through Mr L. D. Nathan, but the lecal agents o£ Lloyd's (Messrs Brown, Campbell and Co.) refused to take her over. No special loason a\ as assigned, theordinary cour»e being either to accept or refuso. MiNathan forwarded a cablegram to Lloyds at England, informing them of the refusal, and nothing further will be done Juutil an answer is received, beyond the landing of cargo, and deepening in the stern.

Departure of the Argyle. The Avgj'le left again for the scene of tho wreck this morning. She had on board Captain Nearing and a further detachment of workmen, the marine surveyors, and others. It was intended to continue the operations as heretofore, in view of a further attempt to get the vessel oft". What the nature of that attempt will be has not yet been decided.

The Anno Milbank Alongside. The steamer Annie Milbank called at the Triumph this morning at seven o'clock on her way up from the Hot Springs. She had on board a very great deal of engineering talent. A boat was lowered, and a party, including Captain Anderson, the masters ot the Embleton, Bengal, and Helen Denny, and Messrs G. Eraser, James Stewart, Lodder, Black, and others, went on board. They found the cutter Start tailing in general cargo from the main hatch, while I the Zillah had on board a quantity I of railway iron. Both lighterf e\. pected to get away about noon. There was a very little wind, and what there was, appeared to be from the South. \ A ketch had just arrived to receive cargo. About 300 ton? has already been landed, including all the cargo shipped here. The people on board had just commenced to get out a large hawser, which will be used if the Tarawera makes an attempt to tow the vessel off.

Captain of the Bengal on the Positio The captain of the Bengal expresses himself of opinion that, the Triumph can be got off if proper appliances are used. He saw the Sorata, a ship of 8,000 tons, when phe went ashore at Adelaide, and he considers she "was in a much worse position than that of the Triumph. She was also halt-filled with water. His idea is that the Triumph can also be got off if the action taken is prompt, and if the weather holds good. A stiff north-easter would be almost certain to convert the vessel into a total wreck.

Refrigerator on Board. There is a splendid Haslam refrigerator on,thejTriumph, with duplicate parts, all the latest improvements, and everything for working twelve months. It was considered by those who called this morning that the refrigerator should be removed at once. It could be taken out in two days.

Conference of Engineers. A conference of engineers, consisting of Messrs George Fraser, W. Lodder, James Stewart, George Black (Thames), David Gouk, and Captain Heale, wa3 held this afternoon in the office of the Karao Goal Co. for the purpose of considering the feasibility, or otherwise of lifting the Triumph off the rocks into deep water with the agency of compressed air. It was generally agreed that the project was feasible, and eventually a proposition was adopted, which it was resolved to at once submit to the agents of the vessel, Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co. Its terms, however, have not yet transpired.

Why Lloyd's Agents Refuse to Take the Vessel. It is really not known who the underwriters of the vessel are, and the amounts of insui'ances are not known. Messrs Brown, Campbell, and Co., the looal agents of Lloyd's, refused to take the vessel when the offer of abandonment was made, because they do not know whether she is insured in Lloyd's or not, and they would no£ do po until the enquiry. If they were to have accepted, they might have incurred expense. and risk, and then found that Lloyds was. not concerned. Other companies involved, would instruct their own agents.

Danger to Those on Board. Ifc is pointed out that in tho event of a sudden N.E. gale the vessel might go to' pieces in a very short time, add the seventy hands on board would be in !the greatest peril. The cliffs are so steep that they could not scale them even if they should reach the shore, A rope ladder should be placed down the cliff, or some other provision made, and it is also suggested that a steamer should be on hand ail night to give assistance when required.