THE WRECKED WILTSHIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 137, 12 June 1922, Page 6

THE WRECKED WILTSHIRE.

SALE OF CARGO. ABOUT THIRTY TONS OFFERED. About thirty bons of cargo from the Wiltshire, Which had been washed, up on the Great Barrier, was brought to Auckland last week, and was offered for sale (by auction at the Central wharf this afternoon. There was a large atteiidance of 'prospective purchaser*, including a few ladies, Ibut when the latter found that the goods consisted mainly of oils, varnish, etc., they soon left. The goods were sold without reserve, ibut the purchasers have to pay duty to be assessed later by the Customs Department on the actual value of the articles, plus 2/6 wharfage per ton claimed "by the Harbour Board.

The first lines put up were forty gallon barrels of lubricating oil, and they elicited strong competition at the commencement, the initial lot being disposed of at I!/ per gallon. Then it rose to 6/G, but the remaining lota varied j between 3/ and 4/9. The duty on this lis 6d per gallon. Three barrels of bitumen, each containing 2cwt., were disposed of at 32/6 a barrel, while 33 cases of metal polish (two dozen tine in a case) were «ecure<l by the Auckland Fire Brigade at 21/ per case. This is liable to a duty of 21 per cent. Thirty-two casea of lysol, six dozen 4oz bottles in each case, were quitted at 27/6 per case. Motor oil sold at 6/3 a tin, while varnish (cases of six dozen tins) made up to £4 5/ a case. Sarking felt brought 6/6 per roll. One line, consigned to a manager of a bank, consisted of 24 halfgallon bottles of "stone ginger essence." This caused some amusement when brought out of the case, but it was • eventually cold at 11/ per bottle, the auctioneer remarking that it was liaWe to a duty of 26/ per gallon. A quantity of tobacco, chloroform and other miscellaneous goods had still to be auctioned when the "Star" went to press. NAUTICAL INQUIRY. TO BE OPEXED NEXT MONDAY. The inquiry into the circumstances connected with the wreck of the Wilt--1 shire has been fixed to open at the Magistrate's Court, Auckland, on Monday next, at 10.30 a.m.. before Ma E. C. Cutten, S.M., with Captain E. C. Fleming and Captain W. Reed aa assessors. Mx. Selwyn Mays will appear on behalf of the Marine Department, Mr. R. D. Bagnall for the owners o<f the vessel, and Mr. Meredith for Captain Hayward. SIGNING-OFT ARTICLES. SOME OF CREW ACCEPT OFFER* All the men belonging to the crew of the Wiltshire wore given the opportunity of signing off the ship's articles, and bo far about half of them have availed themselves of the offer. A number who did not do so were of opinion that if they signed off they would not then be entitled to be kept on shore by th« Board of Trade. However, the men will be looked after by the representative of the Board of Trade here, and they will not lose any of their privileges. It was with the intention of allowing the men to draw the pay that was due to them that the opportunity was given them to sign oft. When a crew is signed on in England the owners usually advance ft portion of the first month's pay. and the married men are allowed to leave nn allotment for their wives to draw. Their wnges, however, ceased when they landed at Auckland, and as they had only b?en a month and three days on the articles j there will lie little to draw. The allotj ment payments, of course, also stopped lat the same time as their wages. SALVAGE OPERATIONS. Mr. Wright, of Brisbane, represeuta- , tive of the London Salvage Association, j who is to view the wreck, with a view to i undertaking the work in connection with the salvage of cargo, etc.. from the WiltI shire, is due to arrive at Wellington by the Tahiti to-day. He is expected to reach Auckland to-morrow. j ' MORE CARGO WASHED ASHORE TRYPHEXA, this day. On Saturday and yesterday more casks of whisky and other cargo were ; washed ashore on the Kaitoke Beach. |owing to south-eaet weather during tlie last few days salvage operations at the wreck of the Wiltshire have been suspended. I =====