VALUABLES SAVED

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 252, 21 July 1936, Page 10

VALUABLES SAVED

Wreck of Abel Tasman Boarded LITTLE CHANGE IN POSITION By Telegraph—Press Association. Grcymouth, July 20. There is little change in the position of the Abel Tasman. Some of the crew’s effects, the ship’s articles, and instruments were recovered to-day by means of a basket on a line which ran from the harbour board derrick at North Tip to the ship’s poop deck. It is understood the underwriters do* not intend attempting to salvage the cargo, which is too hazardous. The timber and other cargo is expected to be sold by tender.

Captain Archibald, the *• first mate (Mr. Dalziel), the boatswain (Mr. Saulson), and a seaman (Mr. Winby) boarded the wreck this afternoon, Mr. Winby leading a difficult and arduous task which was safely accomplished. The first basketful of valuables reached the shore at 4.10 p.m. and all the available properties were landed by 5 p.m. Mr. Winby, however, was unable to recover his savings of £l6, but the first mate secured £7O left by him. The bo’sun evoked amusement by sending ashore a rice pudding in a pie-dish, the cook enjoying the joke. The Shipwreck Relief Society has made a grant for clothing for the crew. The ship is firmly embedded nearly parallel with the north breakwater. The hull is insured with the Batavia Insurance Company and the Royal Exchange Company, but the figures are not available.

It is impossible to ascertain if the broken link in the chain that snapped was faulty. The other chain ’is not broken and evidently slipped through the compressor running itself over the windlass when the starboard chain broke.

A greaser, William Pitt, is in hospital with a chest injury and a poisoned finger.

A preliminary inquiry is proceeding, and the crew are expected to leave on Thursday en route for their homes in Australia. A further effort to recover property from the ship will be made to-morrow. Captain Archibald, fourteen . years ago, when mate of the Joan Craig, figured here in the rescue of two women at Blaketown beach when a bathing accident caused the death of several Reefton people. Not much more timber cargo has been washed from the vessel. From her position the break-up may take longer than previous wrecks at the bar.