MAIL STEAMER BURNED AT SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1887, Page 2

MAIL STEAMER BURNED AT SEA.

(fbom a correspondent,)

Papeete, Tahiti, March 5. News waa received here two days ago, by the arrival of the captain, crew, and passengers of the s.B. Kuiatoa, that the aforesaid veseel was burnt at sea on the 13th March laet, about 200 miles from the Paumotu Islands, and 400 miles from Tahiti. The s.s. Raiatea, 660 tans gross, and 36S tons net register, owned in Hamburg by the Societe Commerdale de L'Oceanie, commanded by Captain Viereck, loft San Francisco oi the 27th January laet for Tahiti, having on board a full cargo, 400 tons for Tahiti and 200 tons for Samoa,'including 800 tins of kerosene, partly on deck, 15 bags of mails, and four passengers, viz , Messrs Sierich, Johnston, Brill, and one native child. The Raiatea had made a splendid passage until the morning of the 13ch February, about 2 o'clock, when an alarm of fire was raited on board. It appears to have broken out in the cabin of the second engineer, and the flames spread with such rapidity that everyone was compelled to leave the ship as soon as possible, without taking anything with them. Two boats were quickly launched, and the captain, crew, and passengers put to sea, and arrived at the island of Rairoa, one of the Ponmotus, after five days. One passenger, Brill, died five hours after leaving the steamer from heart disease and excitement. Fifteen bags of mails for here were loßt, including one months' despatches for the Admiral and the local Government here. The Admiral seems to consider the loss of his despatches so serious, that he is proceeding to Auckland with all possible speed in order tocommu nicate with his Government at Paris. No doubt the reported strained relations between France and Germany has put him on the gui vive. I embrace the opportunity of the Admiral's flagship going to jour port direct to send you some notes of news from this place.