A SCHOONER WRECKED.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 236, 2 October 1908, Page 5

A SCHOONER WRECKED.

ZIOE, ON THE ROCKS.

THE CREW SAFE. Information was received in Auckland last, evening, stating i that the veteran schooner Zior, belonging to the Northern Coal Company, had been wrecked that morning at Takatu Point, and that all hands were safe. r lhe first intimation of the -wreck was conveyed in a telegram dispatched to the owners from Matakana by the master of the vessel, Captain George Diaz. Tbe captain intimated that with the crew of three, he was standing by the wreck to save all the gear possible. He did not know whether the vessel -would be a total wreck or not. The particulars of the wreck' have not eg far come to hand. The steamer Ngapuhi, while on her way from Whangarei to Auckland afternoon, sighted the wreck, and stopped for about an liour, but little information was gained. When the Ngapuhi was coining up to Takatu Point, about half-a-mile out. the sighted schooner wedged between two large rocks. The foresail and staysail were set, presumably with the idea or steadying the vessel, which was full of water. The mainsail and the outer jib? were not in position. Three members of the crew were seen ascending a valley or ravine in the direction of the highlands. They waved to the steamer, which went on a little di.-tance round the point and anchored out of sight of the men. A boat was sent ashore, but the schooners' crew did not put in an appearance, jts a matter of fact they did not see the Ngapuhi stop, and were walking away from the Point on the opposite side. LieutenantCoicnel Holgate, managing director, of trie Northern Coal Co., who was a passenger by the Ngapuhi, pointed out to CViptain Stephenson that the men would not see them where they were. The boat was recalled, and the Ngapuhi '■•teamed back round the point, when the men again came into view. They waved to the steamer, and indicated that she S-hcmld go on to Auckland, it apparently hring their intention to stay by the vessel. There is a dwelling about halfsi -Tnile inland, and the crew were making for it when the Ngapuhi resumed Tier course. The Zior is lying stern en to the shore, and this, in Captain Stephenson's opinion, indicates that the vessel shipped stays and then got ashore. This view is also held by Lieut.-Col. Holgate. The Company's -steamer Baden Powell, which left Auckland last night, was instructed to call at the wreck to-day and render whatever assistance might be rej quired. The Zior's crew will probably Ibe brought on t 0 Auckland by the Baden Powell to-night. While it is not definitely stated that the vessel is a total wreck, it is hinted that it will be hardly worth while to float her oil , . She is an old boat, built in the seventies, and her loss is not regarded by her owners as a serious one. She is valued on the Company's books at £450. In the case of a vessel of her class it is possible to recover a good amount of gear. All the sails, rigging, gear, chains, spars. lights, etc, should be saved. Roughly, these are valued at £100. The loss on the vessel would then nominally be about £350. The Company carries its own insurances. From experience, it has been found by various owners that the cost of floating scows and similar vessels ranges from anything within the vicinity of £200 upwards. The Zior was built by the Meiklejohn family at Omaha in 1572. Subsequently she was transferred to Lyttelton, and after many years returned to Auckland, where she changed ownership on a couple of occasions. For the past 12 months i she has belonged to the Northern Coal Co., which has employed her in the Auck-land-Whangarei trade. I