SHIP FOUNDERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 109, 19 February 1929, Page 5

SHIP FOUNDERS.

LOSS OF THE KANOWNA.

PASSENGERS AND CREW SAVED

(United Press Association —Copyright) MELBOURNE, February 18. Early this morning the freighter Mackarra transhipped the passengers from the Kanowna, which stranded on Sunday on Cleft Island. The Kanowna's crew were taken off later by the collier Dumosa. ■ Captain Newberrv (master of tlie Kanowna) has informed the owners that the ship has foundered. The Mac* karra, with the rescued passengers, is expected to reach Melbourne late tod*iy • Further information states that the vessel slipped off the rocks and sank out of sight at 7.30 o'clock in the morning. All hands were removed to safety before she went down. •V wireless message received from the naval sloop H.M.A.S. Marguerite, this afternoon, read: "Found wreckage 14 miles south of Cleft Island." . The captain of the Mackarra advised. by radio to-day: "All the rescued passengers well and happy." It is obviously difficult to obtain any news regarding the method, or incidents associated with the timely rescue of the vessel's passengers till their arrival at Melbourne. General relief was felt when it was announced that all hands had been saved in addition to the Kanowna's passengers, numbering over 1000. The crew totalled 130. Captain Newberry joined the, Kanowna at Sydnevi on Saturday iro order to relieve the permanent master, Captain Sharland, who is on leave. Cliptain Newberry has a fine record with the Australian. United Steam Navigation Company, the owners of the Kanowna, which is running to the agency of Huddart-Parker's on this trip. Mr Dunk, the chief lighthouse-keep-er at Wilson's Promontory, stated today that ho was unaware that the Kanowna had grounded on Cleft Island, which is only six milqs away. He added that for the past two or three days the promontory had been enveloped in one of the densest fogs he remembered. The Kanowna's cargo was valued at £IOO.OOO. She carried altogether 2000 tons of cargo. The vessel is insured in London, including a racehorse and three motor-cars.

The Kanowna took the first Austrar Han Expeditionary Force to New Guinea in war time, and then was refitted as a hospital ship.—Australian Press Association. RACEHORSE LOST. SYDNEY, February IS. The two-year-old racehorse "which went down with the Kanowna is Hongi, by the New Zealander Thespian. Hongi was purchased at the New Zealand yearling sales last year, and is owned and trained by a Melbourne resident, J. Smedley.—Australian Press Association.