CAUSE OF THE MISHAP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 18, 15 February 1909, Page 2

CAUSE OF THE MISHAP.

KKIDAY XllillTS CALK. A.V KXTKAOnniN.UiY (VUP.KXT. ' AYcllinglo.i. Saturday, The postmas-tcr ut IVton advises ilu' Postal Department llml "(•jpluin Carcv. of Hit; s.s. Blenheim, informs me 1 hut liutli tho lilciiHeim anil tlic Opawa were carried ninny mile* northward last ni-rlit 1)y- an extraordinary t-nrri-itt. The llli'iitu'iin was for.'iod in here.'' may throw some light on Ilu- wreck of til'" Penguin. THE OPAWA CAPTAIN'S EXPERIENCE. Blenheim, Last Xyjflu. Ciuitstin Eckford, of the river steamer Opawa, who has tnuloil between Wellington ami Blenheim fur many years, and knows Cook Straits thoroughly, says there certainly was a very strong current in the Straits on Saturday when hi- crossed will) the Opawa. lint il. was not iilmornial. and was natural to such heavy southerly weather. J lis own passage from "Wellington to Wairau bar occupied lifteon .hours, or twice the ordinary time. He is of opinion that in such 'thick and stormy weather u passenger vessel's liest plan is to refrain from venturing out on the course, on which Tom's Rock is such a great danger. A lighthouse on Terawhiti would bo bo absolutely useless in such thick weather, and guns could not be heard, as the wind was blowing in the direotioa. ....