WRECK AT FIJI. BARQUE ALTMORE TOTALLY LOST. THE CHIEF OFFICER DROWNED. TWO BOATS AND OCCUPANTS MISSING. Auckland, May 15.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 369, 18 May 1889, Page 6

WRECK AT FIJI. BARQUE ALTMORE TOTALLY LOST. THE CHIEF OFFICER DROWNED. TWO BOATS AND OCCUPANTS MISSING. Auckland, May 15.

[ half an hour after midnight of A£ril ; 22nd. She was eleven days out frorh Sydney^ and ■so' far had experienced fine weather,* but thick- weather had set in when the vesae. went ashore, Captain Weeks being under the impression that He 'Was fully iw'elve miles -off the most leeward island of ' the group. ■ ' ' ', i Soon after the vessel struck the second, mate was sent, ashore with a^boatand-crew to see whether a landing could be effected, lie speedily returned and reported- thao there were natives on the island apparently hostile as they had been seen npproachingtho beach with raised spears. Captain Week's accordingly decided to abandon the attempt to eftect a landing there, and resolved to try to effect communication with Suva. The second mate with a gentleman passenger, his wife, four children,' and six of the Altmore's crew then left for Suva in one or two ot the boats. They had not reached Suva up to the timeof theMawheia'sdeparture, and tears are entertained for their safety. It is probable, however, that they may have landed or been cast ashore on one of tne other islands, in which event they would most likely be able to sustain thorn lselves till rescued. v When the rest of the crew were 'being taken on board the schooner Midge in another bout, itcapsized and the chief officer wa* drowned. The steward of the Altmore had one hand badly injured by Contact with the coial, and it is feared that he will lose the use of it. Captain Weeks and the other survivors intended to return to Sydney,, by the steamer Gunga, advertised to sail on the 23rd in&t., so that they are now probably on their way thither. ' ' l

Tin; steamer Mawhera, which arrived from Fiji early this morning, brings news of the wreck of a fine barque named the Altmore, on the most leeward island of the Fiji Croup, the drowning of her chief officer, and disappearance of several passengers and members of the crew, who letfc the wreck to endeavour to make Suva, but have not since been heard of. The Polynesian " Gazette " furnishes the following particulars :—: —

WRECK AT THE YASAWAS. The schooner Midge, Captain C. Kaadarrived from Rotumah on Monday, bring line Mr Mackay, the Resident Commissioner, Mr Swanston, Mr P. Foster, Captain W. Weeks, and nine seamen, who had been shipwrecked. By the schooner news reached us that the four - masted barque Altmore, commanded by Captain \V. G. Weeks, of 1,716 bons register, built of steel, of Glasgow, and fully equipped with all the most modern appliances tor the saving of labour, and the general working of the ship, was unfortunately stranded on the Viwa Reef, in the Yasawa?, about 120 miles from this port, on the morning of April 22nd. The vessel was bound from Sydney to San Francisco, with a cargo of 2,823 tons of coal, and up to her mishap had made a most favourable passage. The schooner, when she sighted the wreck, bore down towards her, and a boat was lowered from the Midge, manned by Mr P. Foster and others, and succeeded in taking several men offthe Altmore, andin endeavouring to get through the passage, the boat being steered by the mate of the Altmore, MrR. B. Turnbull wasswamped by the surf. The occupants of the boat had to swim for their lives, and the mate not being a good swimmer sank, and rose no more. Captain Weeks made strenuous efforts to save the ship, but we regret to say without avail. A part of the crew and passengers left in the lifeboat and first cutter for Levuka, but have not arrived yet. The Altmore is a total wreck.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT. We are indebted to Mr A. S. Moy, chief officer of the JVlawhera, for - the following, additional particulai's : — The Altmore was a line barque, built of steel, and when wrecked she was bound from Sydney to -San Francisco, having on board 2,823 tons coal shipped at Newcastle. She was wrecked on the most leeward island of the Fiji Group