LIVES LOST BY TAKING TO THE BOATS The Steamer Still Secure.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 150, 17 April 1886, Page 4

LIVES LOST BY TAKING TO THE BOATS The Steamer Still Secure.

The Taiaroa is lying well in shoro, appaiently in a good position for getting off, which blip probably will. Thcro is not a deal of water in the fore part of the vessel, and about G or S feet in the cabin. It is thought that the deck plates have started. There is not much doubt that had the passengers and crew stuck to the vessel they would have been saved. Grant states that when the boat capsized he had great difficulty in getting from under her, and after swimming for some time was about to give up the struggle when he momenta! ily touched bottom and evontually got ashore. Mr Tiper, who left the Taiaroa at Wellington, and came to Lyttelfcon in the Te Anau, said that from the newspaper description he identifies the body in the brown suit a3 Mr Murray, formerly a schoolmaster in Otago, and who resided in Nelson a year There were eight bags of mails on the Taiaroa, six from Wellington and two ftom kelson. There were five registered letters from Wellington for Government officers, and the sendors have been advised that the letters wtro in the Taiaroa A special search is being made for the mails, and tho steamer will be boarded as soon as the sea goes down and the mail room examined.

Deaths from Exposure. Hutton states that many were sustained by the life belts only to die irom the seveiity of the night. There was not the slightest confusion, Dut perfect order prevailed, there not being oven a scream from the ladies. One boat tried to effect a landing, but returned to the vo3sel and reported that they were opposite a high bluff; bufc this was a mistake, un doubtedly caused through the darkness.

identification of Bodies. One of the bodies found is that of Jamea Powell, eecond officer. Of the other two, one is that of a seaman, name unknown.

The Preliminary Inquiry. Afc the proli ninary inquiry, hold at 7.30, the captain said lie knew nothing till the vessel was on the beach. He had been on tho watch half-an hour before. He \^as in his cabin when the mate called " Land in .'■ight." When the captain'a gig wa r o blown away the other three boats were apparently in safe wator to seaward of tho steamer, and in charge of the mate, the second mate, and experienced teamen. Ihe captain can only account for tho accident through the compass being operated upon by strong magnetic influences, and to thero being moro than tho usual current, with Hood tide, from the S.E., as he steered the usual course.

Position of the Wreck. A telegram from Kekerangu states the vessel ia within ton yaids from the shore at low water, lying steady, with small seas breaking over her. She lies in seven feet of water forward. Three men swam aboard this morning, and roscued a monkey and a cat. The vessel appeal's to have the bottom stove in, but no holes are visible At low water yesterday the Taiaroa was within ten yards of land. She appears to be lying steady with small sea breaking over her. Three men swam on board, and secured a monkey and a cat. The veseol eeems to have her bottom stove in, but no holes are visible.

Bodies Washed Ashore. The bodies found this morning were those of an officer and two seamen. One boat was found smashod on the beach near the wreck, another hanging from the stern bottom upwards. About four mile 3 north of Kekerangu a boat was washed up with a dead body wearing an'officor's uniform, supposed to be Stratford, the third engineer. Another body was found in the came place,evidently that of a passenger. Ib wears a brown tweed suifc. The beach is being searched fiftoen mileseach way. Hutton says the vessel struck three times on an open big boulder beach. No rocks were near. At half-past seven all the passengers and crew were ordered into the boats, four in number, which were fastened to the stern, and remained thera till twelvej when they were upset. A later telegram says three more bodies have been found between Kekerangu and Flaxburn, '