NEWS BY CABLE

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3292, 26 August 1889, Page 2

NEWS BY CABLE

AUSTRALIAN. Sydney, August 24, The steamer Centennial (formerly Albion) of Ellis' lino sunk in a collision in the harbour, The Centennial sailed for Wellington at 9 o'clock Inst night. The weather was fine and the captain and socond officer were on tho bridge. Off Bradley's Head, half way down the harbour the steam collier Kanalmoka, inward bound. Btcuck the steamer stem on, There was a terrible commotion among the passengers for a few minutes. When the Kanahooka got clear it was found the water was pouring m through a big hole in tho bow of tho Centennial and the vessel was headed for the shore. Bofore reaching the shallow water, however, tho fires were put out and the steamer sank in ten piinntes, Immediately after the collision- the boats were lowered and tho passengers taken off. The crew were rescued by passing steamers. Tho cook, who was in the forecastle at tho time ot the collision, crawled through the hole rande by the Kanahooka, and jumped into the sea. The propeller of the Kanahooka struck him on the leg, inflicting a frightful gash and breaking the limb. The poor fellow was rescued and taken to the hospital. The passengers and crew lost every thing except what they stood in. The officers of the Centennial behaved splendidly. Tho vessel went down bow first, and only her mastheads aro to be seen above water.

The following is the list of passengers:—Mesdames Sievwright, (Montgomery, and Kierle; Misses Sievwright (2), and Johnston (2); Messrs Tobin, Lewis, Thomas, Arthur, Cunn, Micliie, Houston, Thompson, Montr, gomory (2), Kierle, Johnston, Humphries, Gillespie, Walsh, and Fitzpatrick. The Captain, of the Kunahooka asserts that he was steering his right course,-and the cause of the accident cannot, at present, be stated. The collier's bow wqs wreoked, and, but for her water tight compartments, sho would have foundered. There is a hole six feet across in her bows.