NEPTUNE’S HEAVY TOLL.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1922, Page 12

NEPTUNE’S HEAVY TOLL.

NEW ZEALAND’S WRECKS. .LONG AND TRAGIC LIST CHIEF PREVIOUS DISASTERS. The record of past wrecks on the New Zealand coast is a long and tragic one. Appended are brief particulars of the most serious and many of tlie minor disasters: A terrible wreck was that of H M.S. Orpheus, 21 guns, which went on to the Manukau Bar on February 7. 1863, through steering by a chart which was then obsolete, the channel having shifted considerably since the chart was made. There were 256 officers and men on board, and only 69 were saved, 187 losing their lives. The Huddart-Parker steamer Tasmania was wrecked at Table Cape, on the east coast, on July 29, 1897, -with the loss of the lives of 10 members of the crew. The passengers and crew took to the boats. Two boats capsized, eight lives being lost in one case and two in the other. The wreck of the Huddart-Parker steamer Elingamite, while on the voyage from Sydney to Auckland, occurred on November 9, 1002. The vessel carried about 180 passengers and crew. A few were drowned at the wreck, but the majority got into the boats and rafts. One raft was adrift for four days before being picked up, and one boat was never recovered. Altogether 45 lives were lost. SUNK BY ENEMY MINE. The Huddart-Parker steamer Wimmera was sunk by the explosion of a German mine off the north coast of New 7 Zealand, during the war period, on June 26, 1918. Of the 151 persons on board the vessel 26 lost their lives, this number being composed of 10 passengers and 16 members of the ship's company, including the master Captain K. J. Kell. The disaster occurred early in the morning, while the Wimmerq was on the way to Sydney from Auckland. The Northern Company’s steamer Kia Ora, which was engaged in the West Coast trade, was wrecked off the Marakopa River on June 13. 1907. Three lives, including that of Captain Blacklock. were lost. Other steamers lost by the same company were the Gairlocti, oft’ Cape Egmont, in 1903: the Muratai, off' the Hen and Chickens, in 190 S; and the Tasman, in the Bay of Plenty, on June 12. 1921. The steamer Ventnor, which was conveying the remains of disinterred Chinese from New 7 Zealand to China, was wrecked off the Hokianga coast in October, 1902. Twelve members of the crew were drowned, and the gruesome cargo was also lost. MEMORABLE SOUTH ISLAND DISASTER. The loss of the Union Company’s steamer Tararua, which was wrecked on the reef oil' Wai papa Point, Foveaux Strait, on April 19, 1881, is the most memorable wreck of a passenger steamer that has occurred on the coast of the South Island. The Tararua was on her way from Dunedin to the Bluff when the disaster took place. Some 130 lives —110 passengers and 20 members of the.crew —were lost, only about 20 being saved. The steamer Taiaroa, owned by the Union Company, was wrecked in thick weather off Cape Campbell, on the passage from Wellington to Lyttelton on the Marlborough eoast, on the night of April 11, 1886'. The passengers and crew took to the boats, but three of them were swamped, and most of their occupants drowned. In all about 33 lives were lost. The Union Company’s steamer Ohan, which left Greymouth for Dunediq with a cargo of coal and timber in May, 1899, and which was sighted off Cape Campbell two or three days later, was never seen again. She was supposed to have foundered. Captain Brewer and a crew of about 30 were lost. The Union Company's steamer Penguin was wrecked in Cook Strait while on the voyage from Nelson to Wellington, on February 12, 1909. Seventyfive lives were lost. The Union Company’s steamer Waikare was lost at the West Coast Sounds on January 4, 1910, while on a holiday excursion, through striking an uncharted rock. No lives were lost. The Tyser steamer Star pf Canada dragged her anchors and was wrecked at Gisborne on June 13, 1912. No lives were lost. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Tongariro struck a pinnacle off Bull Rock, near Portland Island, East Coast, on August 30, 1916. In this case also all hands were saved. The Federal-Shire steamer Devon was wrecked on the rocks at the entrance to Wellington Harbor, on August 25, 1913. Several other vessels, principally small sailing craft, have been lost at this spot. The crew were landed safely. , The Houlder liner Tyrone was wrecked near Wahine Point, close to the Otago Heads, on September 27 1913. No lives were lost. The barque Constance Craig, which disappeared with all hands in 1907, was supposed to have foundered oft' the New Zealand coast. The barque Loch Lomond disappeared in the same way in 190 S. The old and well-known steamer Stormbird was wrecked at the to the Wanganui River, on September 2, 1916. Three members of the crew were drowned. The Anchor Company’s steamer Charles Edward was wrecked there some time previously. SOME EARLY WRECKS RECALLED. Among, early wrecks were those of the barque Fifeshire, the first immigrant ship to land passengers at Nelson, on the Fifeshire Rock, February 26, 1842; the Queen Bee, at Farewell Spit, on August 16. 1877 (one life lost), and the steamer White Swan, off Flat Point, south of Napier, on June 28, JS62, with Government records. Following are some of the other wrecks on the New Zealand Coast: Airedale, steamer, at New Plymouth, February 15, 1871: Lillie Denham, in Foveaux Straits. December, 1883; Maitai, s.s., at Mercury Island, 1885; Splendid. barque, at Kaipara, 1890; Awaroa, schooner, at Poverty Bay, 1892; Northern Star, barque, at South Head. Kai- . para. 1893; Alexander Newton, barque, I at Portland Island, 1894; Sovereign, | schooner, at Castlepoint, 1894; Christ- ! ine, schooner, at Waitotara River, 1894; Spray, schooner, at Gisborne, 1895; Hermione, ship, Cook Strait, 1895; Zuieika, iron ship, Wellington Heads, 189"; Pirate, scow, Portland Island, 1897; Elginshire, steamer, off Timaru, 1897; Lord of the Isles, schooner,. Kaipara, 1900; Ariadne, steam yacht, off Oamaru, 1902; Marguerite Mirabeau, French bar- ‘ Akfttor® Beaghj 1906.