THE PORT ELLIOT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 8

THE PORT ELLIOT

SALVAGE PROSPECTS GOOD

SHIP NOT LIKELY TO BREAK UP QUICKLY

The weather moderated sufficiently on Wednesday to allow the lighters and surf boats to go alongside the Port Elliot, and a good quantity of dry general caa-go was salved undamaged, Under present weather conditions (states the Hick’s Bay correspondent of the “New Zealand Herald”), the greater part of the cargo is likely to be salved. The Port Elliot still lies inside Horoera Point, on the west side, with 2-4- fathoms of water amidships, low on to the beach with her stem. at right angles on an even keel. While considered a total wreck the vessel is unlikely to break up for some time. She struck the papa reef with such force that her engines and their platforms were lifted bodily upwards for about 4ft. The ship now appears to be moving slightly up and down around the engines, which are resting on the reef. Tho Richardson Company’s steamer Awahou is at present loading salved cargo near the wreck from lighters and surf boats. In addition to Mr. Furneaux, tho wireless operator, one of the firemen on the vessel was also aboard tho ill-fated Wiltshire. One of the lighters lay alongside the Port Elliot and recharged the ship’s emergency wireless set, thus putting the liner in direct communication with the shore again.