ANOTHER DISASTER AT TAURANGA.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1039, 20 February 1879, Page 2

ANOTHER DISASTER AT TAURANGA.

GROUNDING OF THE TATTPO. PASSENGERS AND CARGO SAVED. TAURANGA, Tuesday, 9 a.m. Tho s.s. Taupo has grounded on the rocks at the entrance to the harbour at the Beacon. The engine room became fall of water. " . The passengers aud mails were saved, and the cargo discharged. About six o'clock this morning, the Taupo was seeu blowing off steam outside the Heads. Afrer watching for some time, people concluded she had either broken down or was ashore. The s.s. Katikati was immediately dispatched to the scene, and bas'teturned. Great excitement prevails, some say she is on Stoney Point in a very dangerous position. RETURN OF THE LAUNCH. 9.30 a.m. The launch Katikati has returned from the Taupo crammed full of passengers. The Taupo is ashore outside. 9.45 a,m. The Taupo ran on a sunken rock at the mount. The middle compartment was soon full of water. All the cargo was saved. A large hole was made in her bottom, and the fires were allput out by the water. All luggage was lauded. ; The mount rock is the same the Hawea bumped on some time ago. A PASSENGER'S STATEMENT. 10.37 a.m. A passenger by the Taupo favors me with the following account:—l was standing on the forecastle with another gentleman as we entered the Heads. The vessel seemed to be going rather near the land, which we remarked to one another, and also that the rip appeared very strong. Suddenly the steamer struck violently against a sunken rock, and appeared to lift under our feet. There was t en a general lurch ; and as I looked towards the helm, which was also forward, I saw that the helmsman had let go the wheel. Both the captain and mate were on deck at the time, one of them shouted '" stsam-a-head," but upon its be coming obvious that this coarse would endanger our lives, cried. " stop her." The engine-room now bogan to fill with water, and the mate, who was throughout conspicuous for readiness and piecision, ordered all hands on deck in an instant. His words were obeyed, and the boats rapidly let down. Save for a little excitement among the women the greatest self-control wasexhibited by all who were on deck. The .others summoned from their cabins saeuied rather alarmed, some of the ladies had scarcely time to dress, and were compelled to go ashore in dishabille. After the .votnen had beeia carefully landed, the men, some with luggage, some without, followed. The principal danger at this time, owing to the falling tide, was the ship canting over. The Taupo is about a stone's ihrow from the beach at Mount Mongonui. Her cargo will b6 all landed there to-day This day, 11 a.in. It is feared the Taupo will become a total wreck, as only one compartment is now dry, All the cargo is now discharged, and the cutter Sovereign of the Seas ib taking in her coal. The launch Buona Ventura ia charted by the agent to run from the wreck to the town. No arrangements for the passengers have been completed, It is suggested that the Rowena should take on the Hawea's Auckland passengers, and that the latter vessel should return South with the Taupo's mails and passengers, Plenty of the Taupo's coal is here for the Hawea. CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. At the Horticultural Society's Show, to be held, the principle will be introduced that the admission tickets entitle the holder to a ohanoe in a lottery for pot plants, Seven Lincoln rams were shipped per the Hawea on Saturday for Mr R. 0. Jordan, Tauranga. They are superior animals, with superior fleeoes, from the flock of Mr L. J. Hall. CHRISICHURCH, Wednesday. The scarcity of labor is severely felt at the North Avon Drainage Works, and fully fifty men addi'tionual could ' be advantageously employed. Mr Conyers arrived safely in Ohristchuroh on Saturday night. He sustained the journey well, and is getting on moßb satisfactorily. DUNEDIN, Tuesday. Writing of the forthcoming race meeting, the sporting writer of the 1 Star' makes the following forecast for the Cup :—" 1 like Chancellor, Templeton, Natator, and Campballo better than any in the race, but may have occasion to modify my opinion between this and Thursday week. There are good nominations for the Ladies' Purse, which will probably lie between Temploton, Fishhook, and Natator. The Selling Rtioe has •also filled well, and Huntingdon looks as well as any in it. There are nve acceptances tor the St. Loger, all pretty well known, and the best of them on public form is Natator. fso should, win fvotn. eud. to end,

though Dundee, if fit, which his Wellington running proves he is not, would probably gire him a Btrnggle for iW Why Atlantic h?s accepted cannoT'-be understod, for on hia Tapanui running hecan have no show. In the Hurdle Race I like Whetumararaa best, though Kildare meets him 131bs better than in the spring. The Hailway^Plate should pi-oduce a good contest; but Templeton and Fishhook look the pick of the lot. The Steeplechase 1 look upon as being a second edition of the Hurdle Race. In the Queen's Plate there will be an interesting race between Martha, Fishhook, and the four best 3-year-olds, and of the lot I fancy Natator. The 'Times,' this morning, in the course of a leading article on a comparison of the number of land holdings in the various provinces says : — " Considering the whole circumstances, and especially the chftraoter of many of the small holdings in the North Island, the proportion of unoccupied and uncultivated freehold and leasehold land thi'oughout ths colony cannot be regarded otherwise than as altogether satisfactory, and, these statistics prove indubitably that the commonly-received opinion to the effect that large areas are being held in an unimproved state for purely speculative purposes, has no foundation in fact, the most numerous and chief delinquents being found amongst small proprietors, and notably it would appear amongst free-grantees under the Auckland homestead system. SUCCESSFUL FLOATING OF THE NEW LAND COMPANY. A cable message was received in town to-day, dated the 14th, announcing the successful floating of a limited company in London, with a capital of £1,300,000. The com■pmy has been formed to purchase the estates of Messrs. Joseph Clark, G. M. Bell,and Larnach and Driver, on the Wainu.i plains, in the Soath, to re-sell them in England,, in suitable farms to dona fide settlers on deferred payment, extending over ten or twelve years. It is understood that the land — which is all wheat-growing land, with the Waimate plains railway being formed through its entire length, will be speedly taken up. Sir Julius Vogel has assisted Mi* Larnach in floating the company, and is to be a director. The compary inuagurates a new era in New Zealand settlement.