EAST COAST WRECKAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 9

EAST COAST WRECKAGE.

MYSTERY OF THE SEA. A POSSIBLE CLUE. So far the wreckage washed up on the beach at Te ArarOa has not been identified.

A vessel for which Messrs. C. H. Cranby and Co., Ltd., of Napier, are the agents, is known to be overdue from San Francisco; some anxiety is felt for her safety, and it is feared this may bo tho vessel, but the name cannot be disclosed at present.

It was hoped that if the brand of oil which was on board could be ascertained some further light would be thrown on the matter, but it appears there is no clue in this direction beyond little oval tin labels of a red colour, with the words "highly inflammable" inscribed on them.

Instructions have ;been given for a keen lookout to be kept along the beaches on the coast in case there should be any survivors, it being thought possible some of the men might have attempted to escape from tho burning ship in one of the boats.

The vessel wrecked was apparently a three-masted craft of barquentino or schooner rig, and would be about 150 tons burden. It is understood that quite a number of' ships answering to those requirements are at present engaged in the American oil trade, picking up their cargoes of case oil at Pacific ports of the United States and conveying them to the Islands. Australian ports, Japan, and the Far East. Such a vessel would take anything from two months to six to cross from the American coast to these waters, and quite possibly would not be reported more than onco or twice on the voyage, so that, assuming that she miulc a speedy voyage before she met with disaster, some weeks may elapse before her owners become anxious ns to her fate.

From the state of preservation in wliich a newspaper was found among the wreckage, it may be assumed that the disaster occurred not very far from the Now Zealand coast, nnd as a heavy north-caster had been in progress off the coast for some days, it is reasonable to assume that tbe scene of the troublo was north-eastward of East Cape, and within a few days' sail of that point. TWO LOTS OF WRECKAGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) GISHORNE, this day. An official expresses the opinion that tbe wreckage found on Wainui beach is not connected with that found near Te Amron. It is about 30ft in length and 14ft in width, and is covered with marine growth, but few barnacles. There is evidence of tho timber (Oregon pine) being charred.