WRECK OF THE NAMBUCCA.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 14, 17 January 1905, Page 2

WRECK OF THE NAMBUCCA.

STKXKJ3S A BEEP IK A FOG. NO LIVES LOST. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The steamer Nambueca, of 94 tons, Captain North, built in New South Wales, struck a rock near Sinclair Heads, outside Wellington Heads, during thick weather, about ten o'clock last night, and ia reported to be a total wreck. No lives were lost. -The Najnbucca was coming from Blenheim. The Nambucca was coming from Blenbeim with a quantity wool, chaff, etc., for Wellington. She was abreast of Terawhiti shortly after nine, when a thick fog settled down, shutting out the land and all lights. Captain North was oil the bridge with his chief officer (Captain Croker). and for a time vainly attempted to pick up the land. Considering he was well off the land, Captain North hauled tue'vessel up a point, and then for the first time they found themselves in the vicinity of Tom's Rock, which has brought so many vessels to grief in Cook Straits. "Hard down!" yelled the skipper, and the little vessel, answering her helm quickly, headed seaward, but not coon enough. She struck the outer fringe of the reef, ana being under full speed climbed well out of the water on to the reef. Another tea feet would have avoided the danger. Though the forward part of the steamer was, when the crew left, quite dry, the latter part, from the deck on the bridge, was submerged, and the passengers, three -ladies and one gentleman, will pribably lose everything. The captain's wife and child were also on board. At the time of the accident all the passengers wer* in bunk. There was little commotion, and aa the eea was smooth as a millpond there was no difficulty of the passengers and crew being transferred to the boat. Hugging the shore, the boat made for Island Bay, and the party landed Jthere just about midnight, two hours after the accident, and were hospitably received by the proprietor of the hotel there. The Nambucca was a small wooden vessel of 126 tons, built in Australia, and the Ai;#tralian Alliance have a line on her of £2000, reinsured for £1600. Tlie wool in the cargo is insured in the New Zealand Office. The Duco has left for the scene, and the cargo of wool can easily be saved. The vessel is likely to become a wreck. The captain thinks from the rapidity with which her after part sank that a portion of the bottom is torn out.