MARINE MISHAPS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 303, 18 December 1908, Page 4

MARINE MISHAPS.

THE WRECK. 01'' THE KJA OKA. FUKTIIER DETAILS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Thursday. Fred. Gossett, sole survivor of the wreck of the scow Kia Ora, arrived at Auckland last night. He states that Captain Picrcy was at the wheel wlwn tlie vessel struck. There was a furious gale with squalls of drenching rain, it was impossible to see fifty yards. The captain evidently thought he had passed Kawau Island. The scow suddenly crashed upon the rocks find broke her hack. Gosset called the cook from his bunk. Directly the cook reached the deck lie was washed overboard. Cosset never saw him again. The other three men were washed off the scow luit scrambled. 011 to a rock. The captain and his son had lifebelts

on, but discarded them owing to the difficulty of clinging to the rocks. (ioss'et was washed oil' the rocks but returned with the backwash. The captain's son was twice washed nil' the rock and the captain was washed oil' once, but both got back to their perilous refuge. It was midnight when the scow struck. From then till seven in ino morning the three men remained on the rock. Then Gossett shook hands with the skipper and his son and struck out for the shore, which was not far distant. When he was half-way to the shore he hoard them call, but he was too exhausted to stop. When the chances seemed all against him he felt the sharp rocks under his feet- lie crawled to the clilf. For a time lie looked for the captain and his son, but he saw no sign of them. He made his way to the cottage and received 'every attention. The captain and his son must have been washed of! the rock or drowned in at ' tempting to follow Gosset's example in swimming ashore. A search party which vent out was unable to And a trace of the bodies i- of the missing men.

THE PENGUIN-GERTIE COLLISION. Wellington, Thursday. Judge Cooper and Captains McArthur and Post, assessors, had before them in the Supreme Court to-day the appeal by Frederick Gamble, second officer of the Penguin, against the suspension of, his certificate by the Magisterial Court that inquired into the Penguin-Gertie collision. The appeal was on the ground that the Shipping and Seamen Act required that, before a certificate could be suspended, there must have been serious damage to a ship tlirougn the act of defendant or the person holding the certificate. The Court found that serious damage had not been sustained, upheld the appeal, and awarded appelI lant £5 5s costs.

ARAHURA LOSES A PROPELLER. Wellington, Thursday, On her trip from Weslport to Nelson the Ara'hura lost her port propeller. She arrived in Wellington this morning. CHARLES EDWARD STRANDED AT WANGANUI. j Wangamii, Thursday. When entering the channel last night after crossing the bar the steamer Charles Edward went ashore at the end of tire breakwater, which is in courso of extension,. The bow lodged between two newly-driven piles. A heavy sea prevented assistance being given by a ing until noon to-day, when a hawser was rim out. The sea is now calming and hopes are entertained of rc-lloating the vessel after discharging her cargo of : coal, The vessel is leaking slightly.

A TEMPESTUOUS VOYAGE. Auckland, Thursday. The Star of New Zealand, which a~rived to-day from Sydney, experienced from the commencement of her voyage 011 December 11a heavy gale. 011 December 13 a south-west gale of hurricane force rose, with mountainous seas. Tire deck was swept clear of all movable objects, including forty tons of coal. Articles of light construction were smashed to pieces. The saloon and cabins were flooded. The gale eontinned with little abatement till the vessel readied the Three Kings.