SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE KAKANUI WITH ALL HANDS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2160, 7 February 1891, Page 3

SUPPOSED LOSS OF THE KAKANUI WITH ALL HANDS.

Bluff, Feb. 4. The Hinemoa arrived from the Macquarrie Islands at 6 p.m. She reports that the Kakanui arrived there oq the 2nd of January, and left again on the 3rd, taking away eight men from the island and leaving Mr Melieh, the manager, and his wife tkere. Two days after leaving the Macquarries a I fearful westerly gale was experienced [ there, and it is most probable that the Kakanui foundered in that gale. The people on the Macquarries had plenty of rice, flour, and biequits, and also ate the penguin eggs and a part of the bird itself. Mr Melish refused to come in the Kakanui, preferring to await the arrival of the ketch Gratitude from Invereargil. A thorough search has been made of the Auckland, Snares, Solandera, iraps, and all the outlying islands, but no trace of anyone has been found. The gale experienced at the Macquarries after the Kakanui left was so violent that casks of oil were blowa along the beach, and a hut was blown down. Coptain Fairchild fears that it is only too likely that the Kakanui exprienced that gale and foundered, as when she left the Macquarries she was very deep, and had apparently a good stock of coals on board. So far as can be ascertained the names of those on board the Kakanui are :—Captain William Best, married, with 4 children ; Captain Jacob Eckofi, mate, married, with 6 or 7 children ; Charles Morden, mate, married, with one child; Robert Stewart, engineer, married, no ehildren ; William Morgan, firemen, married, 5 children; William Ressler, cook and steward, married, with one child; George Ludwig, seaman, married, 2 children ; Charles Silvester; Sanne, seaman; fireman, unknown; James Stewart, customs officer, a son of Captain J. Stewart of the big dredge. The eight men taken off the island were C. Gamble, H, Couzens, A. Watson, G. Godfrey, W. Dow, H. Lewis, and two lads, W. Cann and W. Ralph Couzena and Dow are Dunedin men, Lewis was a fisherman at Port Chalmers. The vessel was insured for £ISOO in a Home office and £2OO in the National. She was valued at between £2500 and £3OOO.

Steps are being taken to raise funds for the relief of the families of those on board the vessel, many of them being in destitute circumstances. Wellington, February 5. The Gevernment have decided to send the Hinemoa to the Campbell Islands to search for the missing steamer Kakanui. Dttnedin, February 6. Nautical experts kere say the Kakanui was quite seaworthy for the trip, and the local Lloyd's surveyor is of the same opinion, and the accusation publicly made against her owners of avarice is absolutely foundationless. They received only £l5O for the trip, which is stated to be exceedingly reasonable.