Foundered in the French Pass. Passengers and Crew Saved. BOATS PICKED UP BY THE ROTORUA. A VALUABLE FREIGHT. Quarter of a Million Pounds' Worth of Gold. Nelson, September 27.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 407, 2 October 1889, Page 4

Foundered in the French Pass. Passengers and Crew Saved. BOATS PICKED UP BY THE ROTORUA. A VALUABLE FREIGHT. Quarter of a Million Pounds' Worth of Gold. Nelson, September 27.

Considerable excitement was caused here bins morning by the news that the steamer Koranui, of the Union Steamship Company's line, had foundered near the French Pass at an early hour this morning. The Koranui only left Nelson last night, and was under fche command of Captain Hill. The vessel, it is stated, struck on a rock off the Beef Barrels during very thick veather. There were a number of passengers on board, but these were safely transferred to the ship's boats. A nasty sea was running, but the officers and men behaved well, while equally good behaviour characterised the passengers, and especially the ladies.. No lives were lost. After the boats had been rowing some time, they were picked up by the Union Company's s.s. Rotorua, which conveyed them to Nelson. It is stated bhat there was a very valuable consignment of gold on the Koranui at the time she was lost.

STATEMENT BY THE CAPTAIN. Captain Hill sfcate3 he left Nelson a fc ten o'clock last night. It was thick weather, with drizzling rain. He slowed the engines, and occasionally stopped them, and a glimpse of the land was gob now and then. The steamer was well off the land, and when they saw the French Pass light he was on the bridge and shaped the course at right angles for it. After being on the course for a short time and about 2 a.m. the steamer struck lightly on a rock, supposed to be the outer edge of the Beef Barrels. She commenced to make water, and he ordered the boats out. The passengers, crew and mails were put in. Thero was a fresh gea. Knowing the Rotorua would be coming through the Pass, he determined to stay by the Koranui, and with that view the boats were made fast to the wreck, under the lee of the stern. After being there over an hour tbo vessel began to settle down. The boats thon pulled in the direction of the land. The Rotorua left for Wellington direct at ten this morning, taking the crew.

A PASSENGER'S STATEMENT. The following statement of a passenger has been handed in to the "Evening Mail":— We left Nelson about 11 p.m. I turned in and about 2 a.m. heard a terri6c crash. 1 ruahed on deck, and heard the chief mate shout, "We are on the Beef Barrels." All the passengers and crew were called. We fired the guns an d sent up several rockets. The ladies were then put in a boat in charge of the chief mate. The ladies behaved admirably. A heavy sea was running at the time. The next boat was filled with men in charge of. the second mate. The third boat contained the remainder of the crew. The captain was the last to leave the ship. The boats rode astern connected with the steamer by ropes. We could hear the steamer bumping up against the rocks. We then saw her settle in the water and we -cut the painters. We then rowed towards the Pass. This wae at 2.30 a.m. We fired another blue light, and kept pulling till 4.30 a.m., vrhen v, c sighted the Rotorua. About swe came alongside the Rotorua, and were brought to Nelson. It is reported here that there was £251,000 worth of gold on board. The mails were all saved.