RANGIRIRI. THE SINKING OF THE QUICKSTEP. May 8th, 1875.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 619, 9 May 1876, Page 2

RANGIRIRI. THE SINKING OF THE QUICKSTEP. May Bth, 1875.

j A lady passenger on board the Quickstep when she struck the sang, described the hit as nothing worth noticing, ** In fact," she said, *' I was reading, and went on reading my book, never dreaming the side had all been torn out of the steamer — bat the consteratiou of the gentlemen so soon as it was known she was making water, was somewhat truly ludicrous. They were rushing in all directions like sheeted ghosts. 'The steamer ha* l just taken in her coal for tth© down and return trip, when the master hauded the wheel to u Maori whilst he gave one of the passengers change. The boat sheared off and struck. I a snag •whioh is well known to *U tfcho masters, and would have been avoided ifthesteamer had answered her iheln^as it was, the master, with great presence of mind brought her ifco -and ran her«ou « known sand bank. -Not more than three minutes *Lipsed from her stricking tbhe snag till ahe Bi>ttled on the bottom i« about tforee feet of water. Had not the skipper •displayed 80 much calm judgment andpresemce of wrind, the Quickstep would have gone down in 17 feet <of water, which would ao doubt hwe made it yerj umile*.

Bant for the passengers ns well as tlio owners Th' 1 p.isscnLrers arrived »t Mercer in a canoe about 7 o'clock pretty well tired , but. none the worse for their trip and BRO'teuient. If i« reported the Quickstep will he raised forthwith. Every preparation is being made for that end. The WS N Co, are rather unfortunate. Two days ngo then' Steamer Rangiriri broke her tow-post> and one of her steam pipes, whioh had necessitated her being laid up fonepaits* A couple of dnys will see her running Aerain, The steamer Alert will take tine Quickstep's placfe. — Own Coruks¥oKt>Esr»