PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK OF THE S.S. AHURIRI.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 897, 7 December 1871, Page 2

PARTICULARS OF THE WRECK OF THE S.S. AHURIRI.

The s.s. Ahuriri (as we mentioned in a recent issue) was totally lost off Waikouaiti (Otago Province), bn November 22. The following account of the disaster has been supplied to the " Otago Daily Times" by Captain M'Kinnon, of the ill-fated steamer : " Left Oatnaru at 10 a.m. on the 22nd, with a large cargo, four valuable racehorses, and a deck load of pigs, against a strong southerly gale. Made good way against it; passed inside of Fish reef and outside of Danger reef, where she passed the p.s. Samson, at 3 p.m. Kept a course two miles off shore, and when about between Pleasant river and Jones's Head, Waikpuaiti, gave orders to set the fore-and-aft sails. Leaving the bridge, the captain took the wheel, sending the steersman to assist in setting the mainsail. Five minutes after he left the bridge, the vessel suddenly struck on a sunken rock not marked on the latest chart, which the vessel was being navigated by. She was then 1£ miles off the land ; Jones's Head, Waikouaiti, bearing S W., distance two miles. Orders were at once given to stop the engines, so as to ascertain what damage was done. In about a minute and a half the vessel filled, sticking hard and fast on the rock. The boats were immediately cleared and lowered, and the passengers with only what they stood in, and the mails were sent on shore, leaving on board the captain, Mr E. P. Houghton (supercargo), and four of the crew. In ten minutes after she struck the sea was making a clean breach over her. The life-boat returned and took in those on board and proceeded to the shore, where they landed, with great difficulty, on a rocky beach, overhung by high precipitous cliffs. In an hour after striking, the vessel listed to port, and at daylight on the following morning not a vestige of her could be seen. One of the race-horses swam on shore.but from the precipitous nature of the cliffs little hope is enter-

V ilained of its rescue. After the passengers lauded they had to travel four miles over large slippery boulders, before they could climb up or get to the open land. This being accomplished, Mr E. P. Houghton proceeded to Waikouaiti, and telegraphed a message of the* occurrence to Dunedin. The passengers also found their way to Waikouaiti, and came to Dunedin by conveyances. On getting on to the lerel land, Captain M'Kinnon and his crew travelled on for about two miles, when, when they came across the residence of Mrs Frederick Jones, who treated them with every hospitality, giving them food, aad dry clothes to those who were wet; in fact, she did everything in her power to aliieviate their distress, for which the captain and crew return their most grateful thanks."