WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 14 June 1907, Page 2

WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

ASi: :IE BETWEEN MOIiAU AND j KAWIIIA. CAP'. .'IX ANI) TWO PASSENGERS drowned. 27 Si'IIVIVCTRS ON THE IiEACII. Li LESS ON INHOSPITABLE COAST. Per Press Association Auckland, June 13. The following message was received by the inspector of Police at 8.110 tonight: "The Kia Orn, 011 her journey from Wailara to Onelmnga, was wrecked about 30 miles down the coast, between Kawhia and Mokau, and Captain Ulacklock and two passengers (Forbes and Ross) were drowned. There are 27 survivois slrandcd on the coast, some distance, from any settle-

At 5.45 the following message was l'e ccived from Constable McCarthy: "Have received word that the s.s. Ki;

Ira has been wrecked 20 miles boyoni lawhia on a very rough and inacces

sible coast. Two passengers (Forbes and Ross) are reported to have been drowned.

Ross is said to belong to Ilawerfi. There are 27 survivors ashore, am hey arc without food or shelter. The settlers have gone to their assist

ance with food. . The sea is too rough for a boat to leave Kawhia. Constable McCarthy is leaving for the scene. The track is through rough and broken country.

LATER PARTICULARS. DESPERATE STRAITS OF SURVIVORS. lIAWERA RESIDENTS DROWNED. Per Press Association. Auckland, June 13. The Kin Ora was oil her way to Kawhia from Waitara, and struck near Turua Point, about 30 miles distant, between Kawhia and the Mokau about 3 o'clock this morning. Information is meagre, and conies by telephone from Kawhia. The vessel, it is stated, immediately sank. V The weather was not rough, but there was an unusually heavy log. Capt. Blacklock, and two passengers, named Forbes and Ross, both believed lo belong to Ilawera, were drowned, the captain going down with liis ship. There are about 27 survivors, a dozen being passengers, all for Kawhia and Raglan. The place is 40 miles from the nearest settler's house, and a most inaceesible and desolate spot. Settlers have gone down with provisions, but will not get there till daylight to-morrow morning. 11l the meantime, the sliipwreckco

people will be without food or shelter. A constable from Kawhia and party are going to the. spot to-morrow. There is one sea-going boat at Kawhia. but only a small vessel, ami it; could not possibly make the coast. This boat arrived at Kawhia this afternoon and called at a place not far distant from where the wreck has occurred, but did not see anything. The only hope the survivors have is overland. The Kia Ora lelt Waitara ut 0.30 p.m. on the 12th. The Rarawa, oil arrival here this morning, will probably leave direct for the Scene of the disaster. (The news of the distressing fatality will be received with pain by those who are familiar with the staunch little Kia Ora, the best known trader at the small ports on the West Coast. It was impossible lo get news from this end, the information not having reached this ollice until alter the telephone line lo Awakino had closed. It is generally believed that the disaster lias been met with during tile fog, which seemed to be hanging along the coast yesterday. No man was better acquainted with the treacherous coast than Captain Blacklock, who has lost his life with his ship. The deceased skipper was highly esteemed amongst seafaring men and the travelling public, and was usually spoken of as the whitest of men. lie lias been trading oil this coast for ten years or more, and only a month or two ago was relieving the captain of the Rarawa on the Onehunga run. Captain Blacklock was an old and trusted servant of the Northern Company, who, it will be remembered, was sent Home to bring the Karuwa to the colony, i