THE PORT ELLIOT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 96, 18 January 1924, Page 6

THE PORT ELLIOT

SALVAGE WORK GOING ON SUCCESSFULLY A VISIT TO THE SCENE OF THE WRECK i SPECULATION ON CAUSE OF MISHAP By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, January 17. The salvage of cargo from the Port Elliot is proceeding successfully. Die wind is now off shore. The steamer Koutunui took off several motor-cars and a large quantity of miscellaneous cargo yesterday afternoon. The lighters are able to go alongside only at high water. A good deal of the cargo is being transferred into surf boats. WHERE THE VESSEL LIES A SNUG LITTLE BAY THE MAGIC OF ‘TONGARIRO’ A reporter who visited-the'scene of the wreck describes the loclity as follows :— Riding over to the scene one pictured to one’s self the unfortunate vessel piled up on the rocks. _ partly submerged, and breakers pouring over the ill-fated craft,_ with a beach more or less strewn with wreckage. The wreck is not visible from the East Cape, but riding over Horoera Point the Port Elliot suddenly came into view. The scene was quite different from what one expected. As one of the Maoris expressed it, ths Port Elliot looked as if she wore in a dock and bore all the appearance of having been carefully put, into the snuggest little beach along the whole stretch or coast-line. Towering up high above the beach the steamer looked perfectly secure. She was close inshore, but just too far to ride out to. as she nestled in the-shelter of the little bay on the Te Araroa side of Horoera Point. Nothing Submerged and No. Wreckage. The big steamer was, lying quietly, with just’’a little swinging movement. She was resting on the papa rock that fringes tto onk little sandy beach m that locality. There was nothing submerged, no wreckage, and the crew could be- plainly discerned walking about the decks just as if the vessel were in port. There was a stoht north-easterly blowing, and » bit of a sea running further out, but 'there was no heavv surf where, the ship stood practically broadside, on te the shore, with the waves lapping up barely to the top of the rod paint that marks the lower part of her hull. 'lto position an,yea red to to quite safe, and without danger to the crew. The lifeboats were securely moored on the starboard side, and a lighter could have lain alongside tljere mute comfortably. After their return from the transferring of the men to tn Tutanekai. the boats remained moored there all day. In fact, if the lighters could have got alongside, or had the aid of a scow or pontoon, tons an tons of caroo could have been landed without difficulty next to Hicks Bay. A Sheltered Position. The Port Elliott Las piled up m quite the best position along that portion of the coast. There is no heavy surf where she is. Unless an ea ® t ® r Jy or strong north-easterly sets m, she is well sheltered and the little bay would ’•ema il like the proverbial mill pond. Throughout Sunday there was nothing much that could be done from the were hurriedly made for rcce’ ng the .Jiipwrecked crew at the Native meeting-house. Subsequently these arangements were cancelled by the intimation from the. Port Elliott, that the crew was being transferred to the Tutanekai, and the operation was watched iv’th great interest from the beach. The spectators sat down around the camp fire to watch developments, to discuss the situation, and debate the possibility of salvage of tne vessel. Nothing in the shape of wreckage came ashore from the distressed vessel throughout the day, apart from a. piece of .-ailing and an oar, which possibly came from one of the ship’s Lfciboats. Speculation as to Cause. The presence of the stranded steamer. however, recalled to many the windfall that came to the Natives of the East Coast in connection with the loss of the Tongariro at Mahia Pei.insular several years ago. Large quantities of wreckage were strewn along the coast, including casks of whisky, and boxes of tobacco and cigarettes. The pure. “Scotch” proved so popular with the Maoris that the word “Tongariro” became the accepted name for wh’sky, and many a story is related of the discovery of such “finds.” One ) native is said to have secured 1000 tins of tobacco, which he dried, and thus provided several years’ supply.

As to the cause cf the mishap to the Port Elliot there is much speculation, and the general <pinion is that, owing to the weather conditions, Matakaoa Point was mistaken for East Cape. On several nights last week showery and foggy weather prevailed at East Cape, and on Friday, the night before the wreck, the fog was so thick that the East Cape light was actually obscured a quarter of a mile away. It was thought tho light must have gone out. Te Araroa residents asserted that on Saturday night it was also very dark and foggy. Under normal conditions the glare of East Cape light is clearly visible nt Horoera. The glare of the fight has been seen upon tho bills below which the Port Elliot struck. The biggest wreck hitherto at East Capo was that <f the s.s .Squall. Several sailing vessels also came to grief at this point, including the Sir Henry and Whakapai, while the I unit hub’ of an American vessel drifted ashore near To Araroa during tha war.

The C. and D. Line received telegraphic advice yesterday that fine weather prevailed at the scene of the Port Elliot wreck. Cargo salvaging work was proceeding with the aid of three or for boats.