WRECK OF THE SHIP LYTTELTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 142, 19 June 1886, Page 5

WRECK OF THE SHIP LYTTELTON.

Timaku, Juno 12, As the ship Lyttlcton, loaded with frozen meat, was being towed out of the harbour this morning, as S o'clock, sho was wrocked. Tho Harbour Board tug is now in Dunedin undergoing an overhaul, and the Union Co . steamer Grafton, Captain Hill, was towing tho Lyttloton to sea. Opinions vary as to the cause of tho accident, but it is generally behind that the fluke of the anchor wont through tbo ship's 3ide, whilo others say she struckonarock, Sho sank within 10 minutes, and the captain and crewwero brought baci] to tho broakwator in tho stoamor.

The Lyttelton is lying a milo and a quarter off tho breakwater noarly duo north. The depth of water in that place is 28 feet at high tide, and at low tido it will bo six or seven feet less. It is impossible to learn exactly what was tho cau?o of tho disaster, so many thoorios having boon put, forth concerning it. What appears to bo tho most feasible of theso ia that tbe hawseiv got foul of tho scrow of tho Grafton, rendering tho steamer powotloss. Tho captain of the Lyttolton, finding his vo?sol drifting on to the rocks, dropped hi. anchor, and whon tl'.o tug got to work again, the ship was towed over her anchor, tho lluko of which toro a hole in tho bottom, thus lotting in the water. Onlookers say that when thoy saw tho vessel sottling down a donsc volumo of steam was issuing from tho funnel of tbo rofrigorating machine, showing that tho engines were being lloodod. This continued for about half-an-hour, and then sho submorgod up to her docks. Some of tbo wharf hands declare that when tho Lyttelton was hauling oil tbe broakwator they noticed that she struck something, and tho surmise is that the anchor in boing drawn up bumped against the side and made a hole. This is possible, but not so likoly to be the real caueo of tho accident us tbo othor theory mentioned above.

Tho insurances of tbe local shippers aro ai follows :—South Canterbury Refrigerating Company, £3,000; Loan and Mercantile Agency, £1,200 ; Canterbury Farmers' Association, £200. Her total cargo is valued at £23,000, of which about £10,000 was shipped at Timaru.

It is understood that tho local ugont of tbo Company employed the Grafton to tow the Lyttelton to sea on his own rospon sibility, but tho Secrotary of the Harbour Board was opposed to giving that steamor tho work.

A rather heavy soa is running this afternoon, which provents the divor going down to oxamine hor. Tho vessel's head is towards tho SE,, and is in a favourable position to get tbe sea from that quarter.

Sunday, Juno 15,

Tbo wreck on Saturday night smashed up. After an inspection it was resolved to abandon hor to tho underwriters. During Saturday night tho vossol drifted shorowards somo two ships' longtbs, and then buriod horsclf [livo feot in tho beach at low tido. The water is lovel with tho rail, and her hull is still keeping together all right. Tho Lyttelton is owned by tho Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, of London, and has boen a trador to Wow Zealand for somo timo.