STRANDED STEAMERS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9073, 25 April 1908, Page 6

STRANDED STEAMERS.

THE TAVIUNI'S MISADVENTURE.

VESSEL HARD AND PAST

BY TELEGRAPH—I'RBSS ASSOCIATION. -WESTPORT, April 24.

The U.S.S. ~ Company's Taviuni, which ran ashore at Westport on Thursday took ground forward and stuck hard and fast. An anchor was dropped, but the vessel drifted further inshore.

Seas continually broke over the vessel which heaved heavily. The port holes were immediately smashed and part of the bulwarks carried away. The cabins and saloon were flooded. The steamer listed to seaward, making it very difficult to get about the decks. The crew ar.d four passengers had a very bad time. An attempt was made to launch two of the boats, but both were smashed.

The tug Mana is standing by. She tried to fire lines aboard, but failed. The tug Komata and the Mapourika could also do nothing. Ship's boats were sent down to the scene by rail. At 6 a.m. the passengers and some members of the crew were landed on the beach, the sea being then smooth. At low water the Taviuni is practically high and dry. The rudder is gone. The vessel is half full of water. Nothing can be done till the arrival of the tug Terawhiti, from Wellington, with Foreman Daniels. The vessel has 150 tons of cargo for Westport and 400 tons for Greymouth. Captain Brophy was knocked down on the bridge by a sea. The two lady passengers (Misses Suisted and Mason) displayed great courage.

STAR OF JAPAN,

SALVAGE OPERATIONS

Received April iA, 8.8 a.m. LONDON, April 23

The steamer Star of Japan is lying steady. The cargo in the 'tween and shelter decks is dry, and salvable, and in good condition. Four hundred tons of valuable cargo has been sent to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands.

Salving is proceeding promptly with a view to a preliminary endeavour to re-float the vessel.

The Star of Japan, while outward boupd to Australia and New Zealand, was badly stranded on a reef in St. Cyprian's Bay, on the West African coaat.