SECOND EDITION. THE S S WANAKA ASHORE.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 77, 2 April 1891, Page 3

SECOND EDITION. THE S S WANAKA ASHORE.

News waa reoeived in town to-day to the effeot that the Union Steam Ship Company's 8.8. Wanaka, 278 tons, Captain fileades, went ashoro at 4 o'olook this morning on the Bell Book, about six miles north of Now Plymouth. She wa3 at the time on the trip from Onehunjja to New Plymonth and Wellington i haying left the Manukaa at 2 o'olook yesterday afternoon. The passengers were landod in safety, aad a boat was sent to New Ply" month for assistance. Iho sea was smooth, and when the boat loft the vchbhol had not taken in any water. FURTHKR PAIiTICULAES. THE VESSEL ON THE PUKETAPU REE P. SAFETY OF PAS3ENGERS AND CREW. I_BT TEIiEOBAPH.] [ifNITUD PKEB3 ASSOCIATION. I New Plymouth, Thib Day. Tho steamer left Onehuir'a at 2 o'olook on Wednesday aftjrnon, crossed tho Mannkan Bar at 4, and wes dno at the breakwater at 4 this moiiiih?, with two ladies and ten gentlemen pa°sengera, and tevoral in the sloorogo. Everything went allri^ht till about halfpast 3 this morning. There was a thick fog at thp time, which obtoarcd the shore, the iog being produced, no doubt, by tho bush firca norc goinf on, and it wa3 impossible to stj a length of the Bteamer ahead. The sea was qaito smooth at the timo, with a gentle swell, and Captain Moadc? was on the btidjo at the tjme. Tho atcuner suddenly struck atom on, and then swung round, with hor head pointing south, and broadsido to land. CaptJn Meadc3 behaved splendidly; to did all tho orevr. It wai found the vcfsel had gone on the Pnketapu Ecef, which runs out from Waiongona Point, about a m ; lo from ahore. It ia abont three miles couth of Waitaca, a little to the norlh of where tho Rangatira went ashore in 1880. Thobo.ta wero got ro^dy at onco, and attempts were then mado to get tho vessel off tho reef, but she did not move. A kr.dgo anohor was then put out, and an attempt was made t3 get her off in that way, bnt it was no good. The tide at tite timo was aJinct two hours aftor flood. About 0 o'clock Captain Mcades despatched a ship's boat to tho breakwater, whon Mr. Nownwn, a^ent for the company, afid tho llarbonrmaster, at ouco went in the BtCvDoer Mohaka to the assistance of the stranded voas6l. The pissongers nil then wont in the steamer to the Breakwater and landed. The vessel is lyinsr on tho reef, about a milo and a half from the beach, and well within the reef. She appears to be hanging on it, as when tho tide recedes tho rooks can bo Eton ail around her. The steamer is not making any water at all, and anothor attempt is to bo nude to got her off at high tide, at 2 o'clock. When tho veasol struck not a sign of a rock was Boon. Groat sympathy is generally expressed for Captain Meadc-a. The Latest, THE WANAKA LIKELY TO BE A TOrAL WJBECK. Tho Postal authorities were advised this aftornoon that the Wanaka is likely to beoome a total wreak. The mails aro dry, and are on board tho s s Mohaka. She is standing by the Wanaka, and is not likely to be at New Plymouth broakwater till 7 p.m. or later.