FOUND ON THE BEACH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 8209, 5 August 1915, Page 8

FOUND ON THE BEACH.

RELIC OF THE KAIRAKA. LOSS EXPLAINED BY A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE. (Per Press Association). ■WELLINGTON, August 4. An . interesting ; discovery, and one which ".apparently .confirms the finding of. the Court-of Inquiry into the: loss of. tlte^ ste'amsr - Kairaki. off Greymouth, was made by a young man while walking along the seashore between Lyall Bay and Island Bay yesterday. Noticing a curry powder bottle, curiosity led him to open it, with the result that he found inside a small piece of paper upon which was a faint pencil message. This has been carefully examined, and in believed to be quito genuine. With difficulty the message was found to be as follows: —

" S.s. Kairaki, in a sinking condition. Sprung a. leak off Greymouth. Big soa running. Both boats smashed and drowned. I don't think she will: "

Here the message ends, having probably been abruptly finished. The paper. is sonieH'hat<v torn, and appoara to have been at se'a-for some considerable time.. ; '-

The Kairaki left Wellington on September 24. for Greymouth.,' and'was last seen by Captain.Cowan, of the PetoricV at about 8.30.- P-ni. on September _ 25, off Cape Foulvvind. Wreckage 'was washed ashore on the. following dayV and subsequently-the :-Kairaki wreck was located about vtbre'e miles off Point Elizabeth in 72 feet of water:' . ".