THE ALARM OF WRECK AT MILFORD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1605, 9 July 1887, Page 2

THE ALARM OF WRECK AT MILFORD.

TO THE KEITOR. Sib, —My attention has been directed to a paragraph appearing in the Timaru Herald relative to the explanation of tne signalling of the s.s, Omapere and Waiaui whilst off the Milford coast, and the panic caused to the Milford people. There appears to be some little tenderness felt on the subject in Timaru and it was stated that the telegraphist here would be called to account for having forwarded a groundless report and thereby caused the sending to sea of the s.s. Titan on a dark night. No doubt it was unpleasant to be sent on a fool’s errand, but there have occasionally been wrecks off the coast, and the fact of vessels signalling on a dark and somewhat stormy night would be sufficient to cause alarm to the majority of landsmen. Whoever it was that first conveyed the intelligence to the telegraphist is worthy of some praise lor his prompt action. To the best of his belief a vessel was in distress and he took the proper steps to relieve her. There does not appear to have been much “ pacnic ” about it at Milford and the Timaru Harbor authorities evidently believed in the possibility of another shipping casualty, as witness the promptitude with which they accepted the statement regarding the vessel in distress as a fact. —I am, etc., A Milford RFsideht. Temuka, July 8, 1887.