LOSS OF THE ROTORUA.

TORPEDOED IN ENGLISH CHANNEL.

PASSENGEPiS PREVIOUSLY LANDED.

| Mr A. W. Bennett, general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, received the following cable message 3 - estcrday from London: — I "''After landing all passengers at Plymouth s.s. Rotorua was torpedoed in the Channel. Ship is lost, birt all crow saved with the exception of one steward, Henry "Williams, who signed on at Wellington." The sinking of the Rotorua will mean a serious loss to New Zealand in view of the great scarcity of tonnage at the present time. The vessel was one of the most up-to-date steamers trading between this country and England. She was a sister ship to the Ruahinc and Remuera. The Rotorua was a triple 6crew steamer of 11,140 tons, and was a comparatively new vessel, her last voyage being her thirteenth. She was built in 1910 at Dumbarton, by W. Denny and Bros., for the New Zealand' Shipping Company "Her length was 484 feet, beam 62 feet, depth of hold 41 feet. v THE SHIP'S OFFICERS. ! The Rotorua was commanded by Capj tain I. A. Sutcliffe, who had under him I the following:—Chief officer, Mr S. W. ! Somers-Vine; second, Mr F. H. Haines; third, Mr 0. C. Williams; fourth, Mr C. Briddlecombe; chief engineer. Mr A. H. Parker; second, Mr A. Johnston; third, Mr Wm, Edwards; fourth, Mr J. B. Scott; fifth, Mr A. S. Brown; donkeyman, Mr J. Haggerty; electrician, Mr R. James; refrigerating engineer, Mr H. Dixon; second, Mr J. McLeod; sixth engineer, Mr G. F. Smith; seventh engineer, Mr R. J. Lingley; medical officer, Dr. H. Rhodes; chief steward, Mr W. T. Jajnes ; stewardesses. first, Mrs P. Long; second, Mrs A. Brabner; matron, Miss A. McCorqudale. THE PASSENGER LIST. The Rotorua left Wellington on February Ist for Plymouth. The following is the list of passengers:— From Christchuroh.—Mre J. Anderson, Mies P. E. Anderson, Mre E. and M. Luxford, 'Mis 3 G. V. Luxford, Mrs M. A. 'I'. Rankin, Mrs R. M. Wheeler, Masters P. and H, "Wheeler, Mis 3 G. M. Anderson Miss 11. B. Brown, Miss 31. M. Corkill, lira M. V. Hepworth, Mpster J. Hepworth, Misa J. Hepworth, Miss M. Maud-?, Mis 3 E. E. Maude, Mrs A E. Piper, Mies l D. E. Reynolds, Mr G. -Tulford, Mr J. McGibtxm, Misses E. Reid, A. Reid, Mrs H. Reid.' From Auckland —Miss M. Atherton, Mrs F. E. Davis, Master T. W. Davis, Mre S. E. Evans, M-aeter J. Evane, Mrs K. R. Gaunt, Miss D. Gaunt, Mrs E. Gaunt-, Misa J. Gaunt, Miss M. E. Hanlon, Mrs A. E. Holland, Mies M. Huglies, Miss R. A. Layton, Mies F. M. Price, Miss R. Omsted, Mr R. Tobiaeson, ' Mrs D. "Williamson, Mr Hamilton. Mr W. R. JFlolmea, Mrs li. E. ' Holmes, Misses K. A. and U. M. Holmes, Mrs M. L. Hopkins, Miasee E. M. and M. 0. Hopkins, Mr C. F. Minnitt, Mrs K. Ralph, Miss M. Ralph, .Misses E. B. Brookfield, F. Keller, M. H. Hoses, . U. M. Mosee, B. Rolxrteon, I. G. Wynyard, Mefldam©3 E. M. K. Brooks, C. M. Glaason, H. Hall, N.- F. Keller, H. H. Mitchell, E. L. Moses, D. L. Mullgan, Raboroe, A. M. Sliarland, Mr E. Young 1 . From Wellington—Mrs D. M. Allen, Miss M. L. Buskin, Mrs J. Elder, Miss U. Elder, Miss 111. Johnstone, Mr G. G.. Johnstone. Mrs G. Mawley, Mrs A. M. Veitch, Mr W. Young, MieGes G. Atkinson, M. Brennan, Byard, L. Dinan, E. Gash, M. V. Gutteridge, E. M. Marsden, H. M. Marshall. S. G. Marshall, B. Marshall. M. McNab, P. Smith, K. Stocker, F. Tweedi-e, I. White, B. R. Brown, O. C'. Butt, Byard; R. de Berlin. L. W. Dendy, E. Farrell, 11. A. Hart, D. E. Herbert, A. C. Jones, M.->» Lee, E. Marsden, .M. Marsden. F. Marshall. A. Masefield, A. R. B. McKenzie. T. A. McKibbin, E. Parkin, Sain, E. Stocker, A. Upfield, E. White, Messrs S. By aid, Wm. White; A. F. Wood. Rev. E. J. Sala, Masters Byard, H. S. Sala. F. V. Sala, N. G. Sala. and 8. White, Mi® M. Allen, Mr E.' T. Austin, Mr T. Barnee, Mrs E. H. S. Barrowman, Mr J. Barrowman, Mise A. G. Barrowman, Mr R. Barton, Mr Jcs. Bell, Mrs M. Ball, Master J. W. Bell, Miss J. S. Benton, Mr Bryden, Mrs M. Bryden, Miss B. ■ Bryden, Mrs M. J. Carnell, Mre M. E. Carr, Mr T. Chalmers, Mias Chalmers, Mr S. J. Chattpn, Mka A. Caffey, Mrs M. Cook, Mra E. Costigan. Miss Costigan, Mrs E. G. Cunningham, Mr C. Dawson, Mr W. H. Deee, Mr W. J. Douglas, Mm M. Ferris, Maeter R. Ferris, Mr A. Ficldsend. Miss M. Garland, Mrs M. GodolphiD, Mr J. F. Guinnane. Mra N. Guinnane. Mr G. H. Gupwell, Mrs T. Gupwell, Mrs E. Hill. Miss F. Hill, Miss R. Hill. Master H." Hill, Mre F. Hyde, Mrs K. F. Hands, Mr -T. C. Hewitt, Mrs Hewitt, Mr T. Hewitt, Mr G. Hewitt, iu.r a. Hinton, Mra M, Holmes, Mra D. Johnston, Mr C. H. Knight. Mrs Knight, Miss L. Knight, Mra M. B. Lonjr, Mr W. A. Mavyand, Mrs A. M. Maitland. Mr P. Mathieson, Mrs h. Medhurst, Mrs E. Morgan, Master S. Morgan, Miss P. Morgan. Mr P. C. Mortimer. Master R. Mortimer, Mrs Mortimer, Mias M. Mullens-. Mrs E. MeGlone, Master J. J. McGlone, Miss A. Noble, Mr R. Noble, Mr Paterson, Mrs C. Paterson, Mre E. Phillips, Master D. G. Phillips, Mica A. J. Phillips, Miss N. Phillips. Mrs J. F. Poulter, Master H. A. Poulter, Master L. G, Poulter. Mr G. Rour, Master G. Rouy,"" Master Rouy, Mrs E. F. Rouy, Miss B. Rouy, Master R. Rouv, Master F. Rouy, Masts; E". Sanger, Master A. Sanger, Mrs J. G. Scutts. Master C. Scutt3, Master P. Scutts. Hiss E. Scutte, Master H. Seutts. Mrs C. L. M. Shuttle. Mi« 3 C. M. P. Shuttle, Miss G. P. W. Shutt'e, Miss M. Smith, Mxe C. C.. Thompson, Mrs M. Thorn, Mre A. Wakefield,- Master F. Ware, Mra F. A. Ware. Mies L. Ware, Mrs Wedge wood. Mra D. Weeks. Miss Weeks. From Neißon—Misses C. G. Cosbey and R. Palmer. From Napier—Miss E. D. Taylor. Mrs M. Taylor. Mr W. Wrench, Maeter T. Preston, P. Jones. From Giebome—Misses M. Twistloton N. G. Twistleton. and L. E. Speedy. Mrs E* M iViatleton, Mrs E. Dye. From New Plymouth—Misa F. Tate Mis« E. T&it, Misa X/. Fisher; From Wanganui—Mrs S. A. Reid, Miss K. Reid. From Weetport—Mrs S. Mathieson. Miss E. Mathieson. From Dunedin—Mr R. C. Brian. Mrs C F. Herbert. Miss E. Herbert, Mr F. R. banning, Miea H. E. Manning, Sir James Mill. Mrs E. Matthoweon, Mra F. J. Cotton, Master S. N. Cotton, Maet-er B. J Cotton • Miss E. F. L. Cotton, Mr J. W.' Cotton, Miss M. H. M. Davidson, Mr George Whiffen From Palmerston North—Mr A. F. land. A PREVIOUS VOYAGE. When the war broke out a Christchurch resident who tvas on board her at the time, recalls that, homeward bound, the Rotorua -was 1

nitliin three days' sail of Tcneriffe. Great excitement prevailed among the passengers and crew, for wild stories of naval battles —favourable to the British and otherwise — were received per wireless. It was not until Santa Cruz roadstead was reached that any reliable information was communicated to those on board. In the roadstead were numerous vessels belonging to friendly and belligerent countries, and other German and Austrian boats were continually seeking the refuge of the port. The Rotorua was delayed at Teneriffe thrco days owing to tho proximity of a German raider, Uut at the conclusion of this period she continued her voyage to Plymouth, there to dischargo most of her passengers. Plymouth harbour was reached in the evening, and found to be in a state of great naval activity. Naval craft of all descriptions lay at anchor, irhilo numerous torpedo boats left and re-entered the port at frequent intervals, communicating to the forts with tlic aid of powerful lights, the results of their missions. As it became darker over a dozen searchlights played over the water, and tho harbour entrance. Tho next day the Rotorua sailed for London. The Channel was shrouded in a thick fog, but every now and again a destroper loomed out ot' tho mist, and cut swiftly across the ship's path. At night tho darkness was pierced' at frequent intervals by the searchlights of the coastguard stations, and the lights of the coastal towns. Soon after came the news that tho Kaipara. had been sunk by the raider which tho Rotorua had avoided. AU the passengers of that (and subsequent voyages) have had much to say about the way her officers and crew comported themselves and carried their ship and those on her through the perils that beset them.

THE OTAKI'S OFFICERS

Following is a list of tlie Otaki's •officers, who are now supposed to he nrieoners in Germany Commander, Captain L. G. Silba; chief officer, Mr P. M. IVleLeod; second, Mr L. H. Woods; third, Mr E. F. _ Pattenden; fourth, Mr R. Angell; chief engineer, Mr G. W. Wilson; second, Mr W. A. Thomson: third. Mr A. H. Little; fourth, Mr H. iSomemlle; fifth, Mr J. Clyne; sixth, Mr L. Smart; refrigerating engineer, Mr W. Le Gall; second refrigerating engineer, Mr C . S. Lancaster; chief steward, Mr F. J. Willis; midshipman, Mr B. L. Rilner.