WRECK OF WAIRARAPA

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 260, 30 July 1937, Page 10

WRECK OF WAIRARAPA

Survivors of the Crew AT LEAST NINE IN NEW ZEALAND Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, July 29. One of the most tragic maritime disasters that have occurred on the coast of New Zealand, the wreck of the steamer Wairarapa lu 1894, was recalled by a recent telegram from the North Island, which announced the death of what was believed to be the last of the 130 survivors. Since this message was published it has been established that there are still living in New Zealand and enjoying the best of health at least nine members of the crew of the ill-fated vessel who were fortunate enough to reach shore after the ship had struck. Three of them, Mr. U. Perry, who was donkeyman; Mr. W. Smith, fireman and Mr. Sydney Jones, assistant purser, are resident in the Dunedin district, Mr. Perry at Anderson’s Bay, Mr. Smith at Musselburgh and Mr. Jones at South Dunedin. In South Canterbury there are two survivors, Mr. J. 11. Wlllmott, Timaru, and Mr. Richard Nell, Pareora, who were respectively brass boy and storeman. So far as can be ascertained, there are still another four members of the crew of the vessel living in the North Island, two of them in Auckland and two in Wellington. Mr. J. Gill, one of the firemen, is at present employed in the municipal power station at Wellington, and Mr. T. Ryan, who was also a fireman, is living in Wellington, having retired from the Police Force with the rank of senior-sergeant. Mr. W. Carson, third engineer of the Wairarapa, retired some time ago from the post of Government Inspector of Machinery and resides in Auckland, and also living in retirement in that city is Captain W. Tulloch, formerly harbourmaster at Westport, who was fourth mate. The Wairarapa, bound from Sydney to Auckland, was wrecked on Great Barrier Island on the night of October 29, 1894. At the court of inquiry subsequently held at Auckland it was disclosed that 18G passengers, in addition to a crew of 65, were in the ship when she left Sydney, and that of these 101 passengers and 20 members of the crew were lost.