WRECKED MANAIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 139, 14 June 1926, Page 9

WRECKED MANAIA.

ABANDONED BY GREW. RIMU REACHES AUCKLAND. lABGE QUANTITY OF GEAR SAVED. STEAMER NOW SETTLED DOWN. Stripped of a large quantity of her gear and with her boats missing from their 'davits, the Northern Company's steamer 31anaia, which piled herself on the rocks at the south-eastern corner of Slipper Island on Thursday night when on her way from Tauranga to Auckland, made a sad picture when abandoned by the Eimu on Saturday evening. A slight swell was breaking against the vessel, hut she gave no motion, having settled down on to the rocks, and, as the last man hart left the wreck, she showed not a single light. To Be Offered For Sale. At a conference of directors of the company and the underwriters held this morning, it was decided that the Manaia be offered for sale as she now lies. Her cargo will not be included in the sale. RIMU BRINGS SHIPWRECKED CREW. ALSO BIG QUANTITY OF GEAR. With her decks stacked high with salvaged gear, including five lifeboats and several large rafts, the steamer Rimu, which was dispatched to the assistance of the Manaia on Friday morning, returned from the scene of tlie wreck at 8 o'clock yesterday morning. On board were Captain Norbury, master of the Manaia, and all the members of his crew. On the trip to Auckland some difficulty was experienced in finding sleeping accommodation for all on board, but. everything that could be done to cope with the situation was done, a number of the shipwrecked crew, who could not be provided with cabins, sleeping in the saloon. Included in the quantity of salvaged gear from the Manaia were fittings of all descriptions, crockery and glassware, washbasin cabinets, bedding, electric light globes, and a quantity of cargo. On deck was the more bulky gear, such as rafts and lifeboats. As the relief steamer berthed at -the Northern wharf she was met by relatives of the shipwrecked crew and Others interested in the men's welfare. A number of the crew were taken by motor car to the Sailors' Home. WORK AT THE WRECK. STRIPPING STRANDED STEAMER. All day Saturday, from sunrise until after sunset, the crews of the Manaia and Rimu,.assisted by several shipwrights dispatched from Auckland- by the relief, steamer, toiled hard in salvaging anything of value from the wreck, the work being carried out under the direction of the Northern Co.'s marine superintendent, Captain Pierotti. As soon as the Rimu had ventured close iii to the Manaia, the two steamers were connected by lines and the task of loading the lifeboats and stowing the salvaged goods into the Rimu commenced. In every part of the ship, excepting those which were flooded, the salvage work was carried out -with a will, the articles saved being carried on to the deck, and either thrown or lowered into the waiting boats. One member of the gang exerted himself for fully fifteen minutes in an attempt to shift the bolts securing the ship's bell. From the bridge, where the compass and binnacle were dismantled to the flooded engine room the steamer was a veritable hive of industry. In the wireless room on the boat deck, the second steward (Mr. W. Long) was kept busy in sending' both Press and private radio messages to Auckland. A smooth sea with little or no swell allowed the boat work during the morning to be carried out under ideal conditions, but during the afternoon, when the swell became heavier, the work proved more difficult. A diversion was provided by a member of the Manaia's crew who, when standing in a boat on its way from the wreck to the Rimu, lost his balance and toppled into the tide. He was soon pulled out. By nightfall the Rimu's holds contained a good quantity of the wrecked vessel's furnishings and fittings, but for nearly two hours after -sunset the workers were kept busy in securing on deck the. Manaia's lifeboats and rafts. These boats were slightly longer than the beam of the relief steamer, and the work of making them secure for the trip was an important one. When at last everything had been, made snug, and the last man had left the wreck, the Rimu weighed anchor and set a course for Auckland.

POSITION OF THE WRECK. LIST MUCH DECREASED. ' When abandoned by her crew on Saturday evening, the Manaia had settled down considerably since the time she struck the reef, and the rise and fall of the swell did not cause her any motion. Her bow was held hard and fast by the rocks through her bottom, while her stern was in deep water. During Friday afternoon and evening the ill-fated vessel's list, which had developed as soon as she struck, became more pronounced, but later, when the water flooded all parts of the ship, the steamer almost righted herself. At the time of the Rimu's departure for Auckland, the Manaia was leaning to port at an angle of about seven degrees. ATTEMPT TO VISIT WRECK. The "Star's" Waihi correspondent reports that early yesterday morning a launch containing a Press representative and photographer left Tanner's Point to visit the wreck. The party found a big sea running outside, however, there being immense rollers breaking on the bar, and after patrolling the entrance for some ti_ce in quest of an opening, was compelled to abandon the attempt.