THE WRECK OF THE OMAHA.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17058, 1 February 1921, Page 6

THE WRECK OF THE OMAHA.

(TRESS A&SOCIAI lON TELEGRAMS.) WELLINGTON, January 31. Tho body of Marlow, cook of the Omaka, was recovered last evening on the Petone bench. There is some doubt at present whether six or seven were on board. All those lost were Wellington residents.

The Wairau's crew say the Omaka passed them when the gale sprang up, and they never saw her again. Tho sea. was the heaviest they had ever encountered, and they had an anxious time themselves.

Ti.io name of the ahip'tj boy is Cyril Thomson, aged twenty-one, son of Mr J. F. Thomson, Government grader, New Plymouth. He began his seafaring career oil the Amokura. BLENHEIM, January 31. The Omaka was an auxiliary steamer, fitted with a 45 h.p. oil engine. Slio was a wooden vessel, built in Auckland in 1836, her dimensions being: Lengtih. 7tJft, beam 20.6, depth < 0.2, and lier register 64 tons gross. She was bought by Eckford Bros, in May last, and was used previously in the Net/ Zealand coastal trade, under the name of May Howard. She left Blenheim on tho illfated trip at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Her cargo comprised peas and chair. The insurances are not available.

Captain Hunter-Purvis was very well known in Lyttelton ns the master of the schooner Lily, which spoilt several months last year trading between Lyttelton and Wellington. Tho news of his death was received with profound regret by liis many frjends in Lyttelton.