LATER PARTICULARS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2148, 15 April 1886, Page 2

LATER PARTICULARS. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday.

The Waihi, with the captain and those aaved in his boat from the wreck of the Taiaroa arrived this evening from Blenheim. So far as ascertained those on board numbered 47, being 20 passengers and 27 crew. The number saved was 14. Thus leaving 33 drowned. The ninth body was fctupd yenterday at Flaxbourn«y but it has not y*t b«e.n brought hen, It is not yet known whether it is that of a seaman or a passenger. Me Vallance still continues hi* melancholy march up and down the tpuQh for tfw body of Eia brother,

Should the wind shift round to tlip NoithEast, probably all the bodies will come ashore. The Auckland Star loportrr whys froui Kekerangu :— " I had another interview with McQuarter, the in m found new har« yesterday morning. He seems a good deal better since la^t night, but in still rather incoherent in hii >tit' % inent. He b«y»now that when the scemd boat capaizQji thty righted her, and twenty-two paiuengftn found room in her, though they had to aft nearly up to the waist in the water. The boat drifted away to the north and was frequently upsat, every time losing scvor.il passenger*. An night wore on, nod tho boat's cummin beiujj level with tho water, sitting in water, tnev became exhausted !ind unable through bodily fatigue in do anything to improve the condition of things. By this time the number had been reduced to eleven. One by one these died through fatigue, and were thrown overboard to lighten the boat, until only two were left. Grant, one of the survivors who swam a«hore says: — "Between 11 and 12 o'clock a heavy v* capsized one of the boats and the occupants were struggling in the water. Some were pulled aboard another brat. This boat was now loaded, and the confusion becoming general, was also capsized, and Grant was compelled to swim for his life. So far as he can judge, just at this moment the captain's boat got away, and at it passed the occupants tried to throw a line to the capsized boat, but it mined, and was lost in the darkness. Another boat, Grant believe*, was borne down to the struggling people in tho water and itove in ag-tin«t the vessel's side. Grant struck out for the shore and seems to have had a great fight for life. The waves he described as terriffic in their force, and he sayi that he would never have reached Hhore alive had it not been for his lifebelt. He was several times lifted to the top of a great wave and dashed on the beach, being taken out by the returning current or drawn back. It seemed impossible to gain footing on the rolling boulders, owing to the strength of the return current, which swept down the sloping shingle already referred to with great force. At last, just as he was giving up all hope he bethought him that he would try lying on his back, trusting to chance, instead of trying to help himself. He therefore lay down in that position, with his hands under his head, to protect his head from stones on the beach. This stratagem was successful, and upon being thrown up by the next wave Grant managed to cling to the stone and draw himself clear. Later. Tho boat in which the captnin escaped mi stovo while being carried from th» weathtr to the lee-side of the ship, and was cobbled up with a piece of blanket, which did not, however, prevent her from leaking rather seriously when launched. She now lies on the Wellington wharf, locking not much the worse for her stormy voyage. The captain and the ten men took their places in the boat, the captain being the last 'to leave the ship. The captain's boat missed the .stern line, and although efforts were made by one of the other boats to tow her back again, she was obliged to let go, and drifted out to sea. Then came 17J hours' struggling with the pitile*a storm. The men were wet to the skin by the rain and the teas that broke aboard the frail craft, with no refreshment save a little brandy. Chilled to the bone, and with cramped hands, it is a wonder that the whole eleven should have 'survived. All the men are loud in their praise of Captain Thomson, whose hands never left the tiller the whole time. It required much /perseverance and skill to prevent the boat drifting amongst the breakers, and it was only by cirrfully watching the waves and dodging them that they escaped. When daylight broke it wts found that the boat had drifted itd'irlv to Cape Campbell, and it was decided to unke for the Capo. The sea was running too liijh, however, and it was soon soon that tlicro \v,is no ch.ince of getting to shore. Two small steamers were noticed sheltering at the Cape, but although signals were made to them no reply was received, and indeed the boat must have been quite invisible in the boiling surf at a short distance. About this time a tremendous .sea struck the boat, which almost swamped her and greatly increased her leak, which was now so serious that two men constantly bailing were only just able to keep the water down. The poor fellows suffered very much from thirst, having no liquid with them but brandy, with which they wet their lips occasionally.