ACCIDENT TO THE WAIKARE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13622, 5 January 1910, Page 7

ACCIDENT TO THE WAIKARE.

STRIKES A ROCK IN DUSKY SOUND.

THE VESSEL BEACHED. PASSENGERS AND CREW SAFE. RELIEF STEAMERS LEAVING THIS MORNING. (PRZSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, January 4. The Union Steam Shi.? Company received word this evening that the Waikare struck a rock in Dusky Sound at noon to-day. The vessel is reported to be baoly damaged, and the engine room and stoke hole are full of water. The vessel was beached on an island, tho passengers and crew being safelylanded on the beach of the mainland. Arrangements are being made to despatch the Moura as early as possible to-morrow morning for tho scene of tho accident. The Union Company lost no time in communicating with the Prime Minister, who is at present in Invercargill, and a3 a result H.M.S. Pioneer, lying at the Bluff, is coaling to-night, and her commander hopes to get away to the scene by daylight to-morrow. He hopes to reach Duslcy Sound nfc noon, and be back again at the Bluff with the passengers by 7 p.m. The lighthouse keeper at Puysogur Point has been signalled that the Rosamond, which is due at the Bluff tomorrow morning, is to proceed to Dusky Sound to standi by the Waikare. An ample stock of supplies will be put on board the Moura. Mr McIntyre, the Company's works manager, will be a passenger by the Moura to inspect the Waikare, and consider what can bo done by way of salvage. Wellington has been telegraphed to to get the tug Terawhiti and salvage gear ready for to-morrow morning. The Waikare, which was on the eeeend excursion to tho Sounds, had 150 passengers on board. A private message received from Dunedin early this morning states that H.M.S. Pioneor is expected to leave the Bluff for Dusky Sound at 5 a.m. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) will be a passenger by the warship.

The Waikare was built in 1897 by W. Denny, Bros., and Co., of Dumbarton, the buildera of a large number of the Union Company's vessels. She is 3071 tons gross register and 310 ft long. The Waikare was specially built for the company's intercolonial trade, and was a favourite vessel. About four years ago she was replaced by later and larger vessels, and has since been employed in the passenger trade between Dunedin, East Coast ports, and Auckland. For a number of years past sho has been selected to make the annual Sound* excursion. Captain Newton, who was formerly in charge of the Maori, and later of the Manuka, has been in command of the Waikare for some months past. He is one of th© oldest and most experienced masters in the Company's service.

.Dusky Sound is at the south of the West Coast Sounds districts. It was first sighted by Captain Cook on the 13th February, 1770, and named by him in the dusk of the evening. On bis second voyage, on March 26th, 1775, Captain Coot entered the Sound. Sealing was carried on in the Sound as far back as 1792 by sealers from New South Wales. The Waikare was on her return voyage to Dunedin when the accident happened, Dusky Sound probably being her Jaet place of call before heading for Dunedin.