KARU WRECK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 79, 5 April 1926, Page 5

KARU WRECK.

OWNER INSPECTS HIS BARGAIN.

POSSIBILITIES OF SALVAGE

DECK CARGO WASHED ASHORE.

Amid the wail of countless seabirds and the waves droning her requiem the Karu still lies on the rocky reef-fringed coast where she was driven ashore near Cape Maria. The vessel is now a battered wreck and in slow process of disintegration. The pounding of heavy seas has stripped her deck cargo of timber and removed the funnel and bridge. Part of the bulwarks has gone, and although the two masts are still standing the aft one is shaky and liable to go at any moment over the side. Titled at a rakish angle the vessel's bows are clear of the water, and a tattered jib is all that remains of the sail that was set by the crew in a moment* of dire extremity and endeavour to reach a haven of refuge.

For the moderate sum of £20, the Karu and her timber cargo were disposed of at auction, and the buyer, Mr. W. C. Wright, of Onehunga, spent the Easter holidays inspecting his bargain with a view of determining the prospects of salvas".

Mr. Wright, accompanied by Messrs. V. D. Wright, C. Wright and C. White, left Auckland last Tuesday morning by car, reaching Mr. L. Keene's homestead at Te Paki, the most northerly point of civilisation, on the Wednesday evening. On the following day the members of the party rode on horseback to Twilight Bay and from there walked round the beach to the scene of the wreck.

Speaking to a '"Star" representative this morning, Mr. Wright said that it was about half tide when they reached the Karu, and as the vessel's bows were close to the rocks there was no difficulty in getting on board. A fairly heavy sea was running, the after part of the ship was awash, and occasionally the wafer cascaded up the sloping deck right to the fo'c'sle. They found that all the deck cargo of timber had gone, but although the hatches had disappeared, the timber cargo below was intact. As much detailed inspection as possible was made, and after a couple of souvenirs in the form of a house flag and a name board had been gathered, the party took their departure.

" I bought the Karu on the strength of a photograph that I saw of her," said Mr. Wright," and if the weather remains calm I think that the prospects of salvaging the timber are quite good."

He added that he had interested others in his venture and they were now endeavouring to charter a small steamer and several barges and were hopeful of being able, during the fine weather, to unload the timber out of the holds. That appeared to them to be the most feasible plan, as it was thought that the hull would hold together as long as it was packed with timber. The deck cargo of timber that was washed off the vessel is strewn along the beach close to the wreck, and it was not known at the moment whether it could be salvaged.

A suggestion had been made that it might be possible if a tug boat were available to haul the Karu off her rocky bed, and if her timber cargo would keep her afloat, to tow her in derelict fashion to some sheltered bay on the east coast, but it was a miracle how the Karu, with unguided helm, nosed her way past the encircling reefs to the foot of the cliffs, and it did not appear possible to ever get her out

again

The northern trip proved a very enjoyable one for the party, with excellent roads throughout and the Ninety Mile Beach a glorious speedway, where a sixty-mile gait was possible.