SHIPPING.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 15, 9 August 1873, Page 5

SHIPPING.

_ t . . , m , LOSS OF THE RANGITOTO. By the arrival at Wellmgton on July 31 of the ss Wellington, intelligence was received of the total loss of the ss Rangitoto, on her passage from Nelson to that port She left Ntrisor. at 1 p.m on the previous day, passing through the Freuch Pass, and was off Jackson's Head, at the entrance of Queen Charlotte Sound, about, half-au-hour behind the Welliugton. Jackson's Head bt ing hugged too closely, the steamer •truck, bumping heavily. The sea was quite calm at the time The bottom of the steamer waa stove in. and the fires extinguished. As the vessel was making water at the late of a foot a minute, orders were given to drive her ashore, and there was barely sufficient steam to effect this. The place where she was beached is surmounted by inaccessible rooks, 800 feet high. Her bows rested on a ledg« of rock, aud her stern floated in deep water. The boats were lowered, the greatest order prevailing, and Mr Nancarrow and the second mate, with a boat's crew, started to intercept the Welliugton ou her return down the Sound from Pioton. In this the> succeeded, being picked up by the Wellington, which at ouce proceeded to the scene ofth« wreck. la the meantime, two of the Bangitoto's boats, filled chiefly with ladie« and children to the number of 56, after lying by the ship for four hours, had proceeded up the Sounds the passengers lauding at Mr Turner's station. On the arrival of the Wellington at the wreck, her attention was dfawu by the firing of a gun and the burning of blue-lights on board, the Ranfjitoto. Shortly after, two boats came off from the wreck, containing ladies, children, and others who had not found room in the boats which sought refuge up the Sound. The Wellington approached the wreck as close as safety would permit, and the boats of both steamers were busily occupied all night in saving the mails, passengers' luggage, and a portion of the cargo. Next morning the Kahgitoto went 'down by the stern, the men on board saving themselves in the boats. "They were then taken on board the Wellington— now very crowded— which steamed for Wellington about 11 o'clock. Jackson's Head bring exceedingly exposed to shifts of wind, the lemains of the Rangitoto are likely soon to disappear altogether.