COASTAL STEAMER WRECKED.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 19 April 1913, Page 5

COASTAL STEAMER WRECKED.

STRUCK ON THE BEEF BARRELS. ALL HANDS SAVED. VESSEL TN PERILOUS POSITION. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) NELSON, Last Night. The well-known coastal steamer Manaroa, while on the voyage from Motueka to Wellington, struck on the rocks known as the .Beef Barrels, at 12.45 thi s morning, and was -subsequently beached on D'Urville Island in a sinking condition. The vessel was owned by Messrs Jolmston and Co., of Wellington, amd was of 127 tons. Captain Gilbertson and the crew, and eleven passengers, were saved. The master states that he left Motueka about 7 p.m. yesterday and sighted the French Pass light a.bout 11 p.m., but the light was only visible, at times. He set a course that should 'have taken him well inside the Beef Barrels. He did this on account of the strong south-easterly wind blowing, but he states that this must have taken him out of his course, and on to the rocks. The vessel struck with her fore part. She did not stop altogether, and the craft kept way on all the time. As the vessel was gradually sinking, boats were got out. and everything was in readiness should the vessel go down ; but the captain ordered mo one to go into the boats. There was a nasty, choppy sea from the strong land wind that was blowing, and it would have been unwise for tihe boats to be lowered unless absolutely necessary. Captain Gilbertson then endeavoured to beach the vessel, but great difficulty was experienced in doing tlrV a,nd it was not until 2 a.m., when the vessel was nearly full, that he managed to beach her. The passengers and crew, with the exception of the captain, then left the ship, and were .hospitably received by the settlers. They were taken on to Wellington by the Nikau to-night. The steamer is lying in a bad position, with the stern in deep water. At low tide the stern is visible, but when the tide is high only the top of the funnel is -showing above tli? water. It is riot expected that the vp-m ' will be refloated without }»« eat difficulty. Captain Gilbertson had onlv been ir command for a week. Previously lie was mate of the Manaroa, amd other coastal boats. Shipping men state that had a light been on A'kuri Point, the wreck could not have happened. There have been several wrecks on. tlie Beef Barrels, including the Koranui and Lyttglton, | and several other boats have liatl narrow escapes.