THE CHIEF OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF THE CATASTROPHE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Friday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1899, 6 September 1884, Page 2

THE CHIEF OFFICER'S ACCOUNT OF THE CATASTROPHE. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington , Friday.

The chief officer (Neale) supplies the following paiticnlars. Tlie La&tingham sighted tho const of New Zealand, about 8 o'clock on Monday morning last, .and in a little over twelve hours afterwards was ji total wreck. Heavy weather prevailed at the time, and continued after the vessel was diiven ashoie. The gale was of teirific force, and lain flel heavity for some hours previous to the accident and land was not visible for more than a mile ahead. Great effoits weie made by the officers and crew to pievent the ves.sel going ashore. After she sank she became a total wieck in le-.s than two hours. The crew and passeugeis endeavoured to save themselves in vaiious way*, some of them plunging into the boiling bea and striking out for shoie ; others &pi ang from the vessel's side on to the rocks in the vicinity, while others at tempted to float ashore on anything that would bear their weight. The scene was one of indescribable confusion, the wind howling, rain falling, the people rushing about, shouting and screaming, and the sea breaking over the ship's sides. About midnight a muster of the survivors was made, when it was ascertained that 18 wore missing, and no doubt drowned, the captain and his wife and the whole of the passengers (five) being among the number. A iniseiable night was spent, and on Tuesday efforts were made to find habitation within a short distance of the shore, but without success. Three of the men, Chalniets, Wood and Alvery, continued on their journey in hopes of discovering inhabitants, and wete not seen afterwards by those of the survivors, who aie now in Wellington. It is difficult to say whethei thpv will be found alive. The colonial insu » ces on the Lastingham are : Colonial, £2bUO; Victoria, £1500; South "Bntish, £2000; National, £2000; New Zealand, £o!)0; Adelaide,£2ooo. TheLastingham was loaded with merchandise valued at £10,400, all of which was consigned to Wellington, one large item in the cargo was rails and general machinery, £3,300, and besides this she had a large quantity of cement, spirits, etc. It i.s understood that Capt. Morrison, who commanded the Lastingham, had retired from sea some time back, but was ruined by the failure of the Glasgow Bank, and had to go to sea again, this being his second voyaere. The wieck of the Lastingham ha.s cast a gloom over the city, and the flags are loweied to half-mast as a mark of respect to those who perished. Capt. Morrison was about (50 years of age. His wife usually accompanied him on all his voyages. Instructions have been given to send a steamer from Picton to proceed to the scene of the catastrophe, and institute a search for the three survivors who were hunting for a habitation, and could not be found when the others were rescued. A subscription list was started this morning in aid of the survivors, and £3G were handed to the chief officer to provide clothing for his shipmates.