A STEAMER LOST.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 241, 29 January 1898, Page 2

A STEAMER LOST.

TOTAL WRECK OF THE MATAURA. NO LIVES SUPPOSED TO BE LOST. HEAVY CARGO FROM THE SOUTH ISLAND. BY TKLIiGUArit.—OWN COKItESI'OSDEN-T). WELLINGTON, Last Night. Nkws has been received of the wreck of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Mataura, which was totally lost near the Straits of Magellan A boat load containing 15 persons got away, and the others arc probably saved. The Mataura was one of the latest additions to the New Zealand Shipping Company's fleet of cargo steamers trading between-this colony and London. She was a screw steamer of 5764 tons, classed 100 at Lloyds. She was built at Glasgow by Barclay, Curies and Compauy in 1596 for the New Zealand Shipping Company. The Mataura left Wellington on December 21st for London, via Monte Vidro and Teneriffc, with a large and valuable cargo of froz n meat, dairy produce, wool, etc. She loaded the bulk of her frozen meat at the Bluff and Port Chalmers. The insurances on the frozen meat and wool will amount to about £200,000, affecting the various oflices doing buni ness in New Zealand, the bulk of the risk is said to be in New Zealand offices. The insurances on the hull amount to between £60,000 and £SO,OOO. The greater portion of the steamer's cargo was shipped in the South Island. Captain Millward was commauder of the steamer. She had only three pasfengers, all from Dunedin, viz., Mr A. J. Park, Miss Katie Park and Mr f hos. MilUon, the well-known stevedore at Port Chambers. There were on board all told. The cargo consisted of 17,560 bales of wool, 20,000 carca3e3 of frozen sheep, 309 carcasss of frozen lambs, 1374 packages of butter, 2800 cases of cheese and sundries.