WRECK OF THE STEAMER TARANAKI. PASSENGERS AND CREW SAVED. [Per Press AGENCY.] Tauranga. 29th November.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 284, 30 November 1878, Page 2

WRECK OF THE STEAMER TARANAKI. PASSENGERS AND CREW SAVED. [Per Press AGENCY.] Tauranga. 29th November.

Great excitement was caused in Tauranga to-day by the news that the Taranaki, due early in the morning, had been wrecked in a fog on Karewha, a small island five miles outside the harbor. The news was brought by part of the crew, headed by the mate and the purser, who rowed up in a ship's boat. The following is an account of the disaster by one of the hands :— lam a fireman on board the Taranaki. We left Auckland at 4pm. on Thursday, with about eighty passengers. Tne weather was very thick, and nt midnight the ship came to anchor somewhere near the Hole in the Wall. About 4 a.m. the weather cloared. and we proceeded; but later it thickened again. I was on duty from 4 to 8, at which time I turned in. I had been asleep about an hour and a half whon I heard some onu shout " Stop her," and then " Full speed astern." Almost immediately afterwards the steamer struck; there was no great shock. The engines were then turned on ahead for n minute or two. When I went on deck there seemed to be no confusion. Everyone kepi quiet, the passengers behaving remarkably well. Captain Malcolm told us to lower the boats directly. In a few minutes this was done, and we then proceeded to land the passengers on the island. At 11 o'clock all the passengers were landed, and a portion of the port watch, under the mate, was despatched to Tauranga for assistance. The Taranaki lies on her beam ends, only a small portion of her uoso being out of water. The hatches are of course battened down, and being under the water it will be impossible to save any portion of the cargo.

The Taranaki left Auckland about hnlT-past four in the evening. It was beautifully calm, but towards evening a heavy fog sot in. Soon after ten o'clock Captain Malcolm anchored, and remained so until a little after three o'clock, when as daylight set in the fog lifted a little. We had about seventy-five passengnrs on board, including a very large number of women and children. Twenty-five of the passengers were in the fore-cabin. The ship's hands numbered about 34, so that altogether we had about 100 souls on board. Most of the passengers were astir early. The morning was calm but very foggy, and we were under easy steam. Breakfast was rather late, and the bell did not ring till about nine o'clock. The passengers ou deck trooped down, and only a few had taken their seats when we felt the engines reversed, and almost instantly the ship struck heavily and bumped four times. Rushing on deck we found ourselves in a little rocky inlet, a precipice rising in front of us some 300 feet high. There were rocks on either side, and the bowsprit almost touched the cliff. Ahead the sea was calm,- but there was a good deal of swell on The ship bumped heavily, and the water seemed shallow, so that there was no danger of slipping off into deep water. The engines were also kept full speed ahead as long as possible. Most of the passengers were up and dressed, and on the wh>lo excellent order prevailed. Captain Malcolm was quite cool. Mr Holm, the chief officer, was most active. After a good deal of delay, and with no small amount of trouble, the four ship's boats were got out safely, but it was three-quarters of an hour after we struck before the first boat, with the women and children, got off from the shin, quickly followed by the second boat, with the remainder of the women Some few men showed a disposition to rush the boats, but the determined attitude of one or two gentlemen who were shipping the women and children at the captain's request stopped this. One gentleman threatened to throw overboard the first man who attempted to enter a boat till every woman and child was off. To find a sat place to land we had to pull round a point which hid the ship from us. We got all the women and children ashore without any accident, and then the men all followed safely. The island on which we struck was Karewha or Lizard Island, a high, bare rock of perhaps a couple of acres in extent, and partly covered with karakas — trees of stunted growth. Captain Malcolm stuck bravely to h's ship, and the crews of the various boats worked with a will to land as much of the passengers' luggage as possible. About half-past 10 the chef officer was despatched with one of the boat* to Tauranga, about seven or eight miles off, we supposed fn the meantime, the other boats continued to ply to the ship, which had now careened over on her port side, with the sea washing into the saloon, fore cabin, hold, and eneine-room. Amongst these conspicuous by their untiring energy in saving property were the second and third stewards, twin brothers of the name of Warren. A little boy from the training ship, on his first voyage, behaved gallantly. A good stock of bread, butter, jam, and lemonade w-.s got ashore, as well as some cases of fruit, and the best was done to render the women and children comfortable. The sun was very hot, and the whole encampment looked like a big picnic. About 1 o'clock the cutter Lancashire Lass hove in sight, and soon afterwards the Waratah. It took them some time to make the island, and the Waratah came in first, sending in her boat with a keg of water, which was most acceptable. Captain Malcolm came rouad from the wreck, and being afraid of a change of wind, which would render embarkation difficult, ordered the women and children to get on board the cutter at once. The first boat load had just left when the smoke of a steamer was seen approaching. It was now half-past 4 o'cl <:k. The boats were stopped, and in about half-an-hour the Staffa was close by. All the passengers and luggage were quickly put on board the Stafia. Just as this was done the Rowena steamer came across a]sQ. Captain Malcolm, after seeing all safe, determined to remain by the wreck all night, and he and Mr. Holm and a portion of the crew went on board the cutter. As Captain Milcolm left the Stafj&the passengers gave him th.ree hearty cheers. The greitest sympathy is felt for him. irwas the second mate's watch when we r.tvuck, but the captain was on the bridge, and there was a good look-out. It was, however, impossible to see fifty yards on any side when we struck, and ihe first cry of land was little more than half-a-minute before we struck. We were, it •eems, some three miles out of our course, and it is thought the error occurred through our having drifted while at anchor in the night. The women behaved admirably all through, v c left the wreck at seven o'clock, the fog beirg sti'l very dense, and it commenced to vain when we got inside the beads. We struck •several times on mudbanks in the

harbor before reaching the wharf, where we at last arrived at 9.30. Here we were most hospitably received by the residents ; Mr. Buddie*, of the Bank of New Zealand; Mr. M'Ketlar, and others, receiving numbers, and entortaming them. The Taranaki is a total wreck, lying on her port side, which is all stove in. Her back is also said tn be broken ; certainly she can never be got off, but, if calm weather continues, a good deal of the cargo will yet be saved. We had a marvellous »,cape, and are all deeply thankful. r J Mr. E. T. Gillon was foremost in assisting Captain Malcolm throughout the day. There is a pcß«ibility of some of the cargo being saved. The residents are all keeping open house. PASBBNGBRB AND CARGO. The following is the list of passengers from Auckland :— Mr. and Mrs. A. King and four children, Mrs. Dent and son, Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Hill, Mesdames Evans and Catties, Messrs. Rosie, Leechraan, Randell, E. Good, A. M. Ros«, Edwards, Gillon, E. W. Bullen, King, Bell. Coler, Goodyer, and six natives. Cargo for Tauranga— 2 cases, 1 bale. For Poverty Bay— 2B boxes, 5 cases, 1 trunk, 20 packages, 25 half-chests tea, 1 bale, 1 parcel. For Napier— l 2 cases, 7 casks, 8 packages, 8 sacks potatoes. For Wellington— l case, 70 sacks oysters, 102 sacks potatoes, 2 spars, S packages. For Lyttelton— 9 cases, 4 packages. For Dunedm-21 cases, o bales, 2 parcols, 18 sacks, 50 bales hops. insurances. Tho Taranaki was valued at £16,000, and was partly injured at home. The following local companies hnve risks upon her -.—South British, £2500. mostly re- insured; Colonial £750; National, £750; New Zealand, £750; Union, £750.