THE TONGARIRO.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1916, Page 4

THE TONGARIRO.

CARGO ADRIFT. By Telegraph.—Presß Association. Napier, Yesterday. The wrecked Tongariro, which brok# in two earlier in the week, is now in two distinct parts, a gap of from 25 to 30 yards separating the fore part from the after part. The latter portion has sunk deeper, and her main deck is nofr awash, although the bridge deck is abova water. As the parts gradually drifted apart the cargo in the after part commenced tu be disturbed and to float away front the hull, and the sea is now a mass of valuable cargo, which is expected to be washed ashore along the coast. : The weather at the scene of the wreck has been beaiitifully fine, and the moss has been made of the opportunity to recover us much cargo as possible. It ia expected that the forepart of the vessel, which is still hard on the rock, will' be workable for salving purposes fou some time, certainly as long as theweather remains good. "It is more than probable that all the cargo in the stern part of the vessel will have to be aban* doned. ABANDONED TO UNDERWRITERS; Napier, Last Night. The Tongariro wreck has now beeft abandoned to the underwriters. Thq captain and the remainder of the crewi arrived by the Tangaroa at 6.30 to-night, with Captains Bowen and Plunkett. Tha after part of the vessel has disappeared! only the top of the funnel and mast be« ing visible. The fore part is still ore the rocks, and is badly knocked about. All cargo possible lias been saved—aboub 300 tons. The preliminary inquiry will be held before the Collector of Customs in Napier next week.