WRECK AF A BARQUE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 281, 27 November 1901, Page 2

WRECK AF A BARQUE.

THE MATE DROWNED. PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION. Auckland, November 26. The barque Royal Tar, outward bound, struck a >-ock on Tiritiri at two o'clock this morning. The steamer Ngunguru, which was passing saw the vessel sending up signal rockets, and proceeded to render assistance. Before she got alongside the Royal Tar slipped off the rock and saink in deep water. The steamer found the captain and crew in two boats. Captain Morrison | stated that the mate was drowned. The captain's wife and child wsre landed at, Tiritiri. The Royal Tar struck a sunken, rock and at once bagan to settle down. The crew put off in the boats, but Kirby went into the cabin to get some personal property, and before he could return the vessel listed and sink.

Captiin Mori ison and the crew of the Royal Tar have been brought to Auckland. The name of the mate who was drowned was Kirby. He was a single man, and a native of Lancashire. He joined the vessel at Newcastle. LATER PARTICULARS. Captain Mori ison sta*e« that the vtstel 1 ft Auckland for Kaipari in ballast at 7 yesterday. There was a light breeze between east and touth, Instead of following the usual passage betweon Tiritiri aud the mainland he went ou'sid-i r.hnt island in order to save beating to windwaid. At midnight tha ve sal was put oa a north-north-east course, running before a light fair wind. It was the second officer's watch. At 1.30 a.m. tbe vessel, while travelling four or five knots an hour, struck a sunken rock, which proved to be the' Shearer rock, a mile and a half north of Tiritiri. The | officers were aware of the existenoe of this rock, and expected that the course set at midnight would carry the vessel well clear of it. The captain attributes the mishap to the infiuenoe of very strong tides. The vtssel at once bagan to fill and settle. The boats were launched—two lifeboats atd a dhingey. Mrs Mo>rison and most of the ere* put off in the two boats, the captain, mate, and a seaman remaining on board. Twenty minutes after the vessel struok the hold was full of water, and the cabin, whioh was on deck, began to fill. Tne captain and one man had to jump overboard into the water and wen taken into the remaining boa*:, thr painter of which the crew were obliged to cut to RVO'"d being drawn under by the sinking barque. Jufct before the barque sank the mate (Kirby) went into the cabin to get some of bis effects and before he could return the veiisel had listed and sunk. In the rush of wat T he was foro-d off the roof of the cabin. The vessel sank till the top-gallant-mast only was visible. The crew waited till dayligh*, when the st»nm«r Ngunguru arrived. The whole of the craw afterwards embarked on the Admiral, and were conveyed to Auckland. •