THE WAIKARE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10007, 1 April 1910, Page 4

THE WAIKARE.

Direct from Stop Island, D'isky Sound, the freezer craft Gis borne arrived at the Bluff last week. Mr Bragg, a passenger, reports, says the ■ Bluff correspondent of the "Otago Daily Times," having taken soundings around the Waikare wreck, marking from «ix fathoms and a half up to eight fathoms. The propeller end of the vessel is rest, ing on a bank of sand. When making observations he could see distinctly one blade sunk deep down in the sand. Further along there was exposed to view a savage-looking tear in vthe bottom—open-mouthed and ragged at the edges. He estimates it to be about 2ft in length. After skipping soii.e distance along the bottom the tear again makes its appearance in another rent of about 18in. *hese rents are estimated to be about. 4ft from the keel between it and the rolling chocks. These two holes are undoubtedly the primary cause of the catastrophe. Mr Bragg's | idea is that if the wreck could be warped upon an even keel there would not be much difficulty in floating the vessel off. Public interest in the possibilities of raising the Waikare has been considerably enhanced by the fact that the services of the deep-sea diving expert, Mr William May, oX Melbourne, have been secured. It will be remembered that May recently accomplished a diving, record of 186 ft, a performance that baa never been equalled by any other diverin the world. It was May who removed the specie from the ill-fated Catheron in Torres Strait many years ago, and still more recently performed similar work at the wreck of the Elingamite on the Three Kings. A competent staff will accompany Mr May to the wreck, and it will then be seen whether it will be a question of | salving the cargo or refloating the Waikare as a whole.