DANGERS OF THE DEEP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7716, 19 January 1905, Page 2

DANGERS OF THE DEEP.

LOSS OF THE NAMBUCCA. R A Total Wreck. • (Per Press Association.) j WELLINGTON, Jan. 18. The Nnmbucca is gow completely submerged, anil there is no chance ' |OS saving the mails, cargo., or be- " ■longings of the crow a»wl passengers. s The Nambucca was a well-known trader engaged in the Wellingilioiv Blenheim service for over two years. She was a wooden, screw vessel of 180 tons I gross and 74 tons net ; ' built in 1898 by Mr 1). J)rake, of a Balmain, New South Wales, and J jwas purchased in May, 1902, by her £ 'present owners, the Marlborough ' Steam Ship Company, Limited, for the trade in which she has since ' been employed. Her principal di- * mensions l-were : beam, 2-11't 4in. ; depth, 7ft <lhi. The , engines wore made by Cran and , Co., of Leith. The Nambucca was extensively overhauled last year, and ■ her passenger accommodation was i considerably J'mprovod and enlarged. . She was to have been placed on the patent slip at Wellington at the end of the week for re-coppering. Mr ' Robert Priddle, one of the owners of tho Nambucca, cstiniaites the loss at £6ooo.—New Zealand Times. SUPPOSED ACCIDENT. A Derelict Sighted. BLENHEIM, Jan. 18. Tb.9 Captain of the steamer Clannet brought word, to Picton this moaning of having sighted a boot off Diefiembach, bottom up, and with all sails set. There was no Iraec of tho occupants'. Two young men named Huntley left for Blackwood Bay last night, and it ia /feared they met with au accident, GROUNDING OF THE WAINUI. INTERESTING COMMUNICATION. A correspondent writes to the Pntea Press as follows :—I noticed in yomujmpression of the 16th inst. a I cross-headed article, "A Narrow Es- ' c a pe," detailing tho striking of tho • Waimii on ai rock between Stephen and D'Urvjllo Islands. Many years • ago, while sheep-farming on tho latt ter island, I gained considerable knowledge of the rocks and currents all round that portion of the coast. On two i occasions, at least, I descried while at the extreme? north ( end' of D'Urville Island, and immedi- ' ately opposite Stephen Islajgl, a small rock just awash at low water spring tides. This rocß lies, as nearly as I could judge, about the centre of the J:"clear passage" marked on the Admiralty) chart. I must state that there are two rocks that are always visible, the tower and the saddle rocks,; lying about half way tot-ween, the two islands, and - the "clear passage" marked on the ; chart is the passage between these s rocks and Stephen Island. Tho pasII sage next -to DTrville Island, although perfectly clear, is seldom r used. I hnvo seen hundreds of vessels, : steamers, and sailers, go , through tho chart-marked passage 1 when they could only have escaped , tho dangerous rock by a few feet. 1 mentioned this fact to all the skip--2 pers I came across at that time, o and on one occasion, while enjoying a short cruise with' the late Captain .. Fnirehild in -the Government steami. er Stella, I examined his chart, and 0 pointed out as nearly as possible the position of the rock in question. i He intended to make a survey of the spot later on, but whether he , did so or not I have never asccr- ;- tained. I< have, little doubt that i- this is the rock on which the Waftiui i- experienced her narrow escape, and would suggest that the marine aui, fhorities have a survey of the spot '.. made without delay.