LOST ON THE COAST. WRECK OF THE S.S. KIWI

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 86, 12 April 1894, Page 2

LOST ON THE COAST. WRECK OF THE S.S. KIWI

Quito a fluttci of excitement was caused in shipping ciroles this morning by the nows that tho s.s. Kiwi, which left Wellington for East Coast ports on Tuesday evening, had been wrecked. Mr. D. Williamson, shipping manager of Lovin & Co., had received a telegram from Capt. Campbell dated from Tauoru, stating that tho vessel had been wrecked nt Glenburn, but that all bauds weie Favod, and asking for particulars as to thi bringing of the crew to Wellington. No other particulars were given, and Mr. Williamson immediately wired to Capt. Campbell for further information. A later telegram received by Mr. Williamson states that tho Kiwi landod her cargo at Glenbnrn safely, bnt on coming ont sank in 30 fathoms of water. How tho catastrophe occurred, or whether she struok a rock, which ia highly probable, the agents aro not advised. Mr. Greenwood, engineer of the vessel, rode ovorland to Taueru from the scene of the wreck, and telegraphed the above particulars on behalf of Captain Campbell. Mr. Williamson despatched a second telegram direoting the officers and crew to come on at onoe to Wellington over land. Afterwards, howevor, arrangements woro made for the charter of the steam tender Duoo to bring the officers and orew baok. She leaves for Glenburn this evening. The Kiwi and her cominandor are well known throughout the colony. The vessel was built iv 1874 to the order of Lovin & Co. for the East Coast trade, by Humphreys & Pearson, of Hull. She was an iron screw steamer of exceptional strength, and rigged originally as a three-masted schooner, whioh, however, had been reduced to two spars. Hor dimensions were — Length, 115"lft ; breadth, 19'lft ; depth, 88ft ; and tonnage, 195 tons gross, 189 under deck, and 133 net. She was valued at .£3300, and insured in the Victoria Office for .£3OOO, portions of the risk being transferred to other offices as follows : — New Zealand, .£500; Commercial Union, .£500 ; South British, .£500 ; Standard, ; National, ,£250 j United, .£250 ; Thames and Mersey, The bulk of the cargo is also insured, but to what extent is not yet certain. General sympathy will bo felt for Capt. Campbell, whose first accident this is since he took command of. tho vessel when she arrived from Home iv 1874. The steamer was particularly well adapted to the requirements of the East Coast, and had Mr. Dicker as chief officer and Mr. Greenwood as chief engineer.

LBT TEiECIBAPH.. * f Our Own Correspondent. J Mastbbton, This Day. Levin and Co.'s b.s. Kiwi struck on a Bunken rock about three miles from Glenburn, East Coast, at 4.15 yesterday afternoon. The ship started to sink at 4 45, and finally disappeared at 5.15. She appealed to strike midships, and the water filled the hold. When tho crew (14 in number) left the vosselj the water was within a foot of the deck. A boat was launohed, and when she was about 300 yards off the vessel gave a lurch and sank bow first. The crew reached Glenburn in safety, and was put up by Mr. Fred Moore. Mr. Groonwood, tho engineer, rode all night, and reached Masterton tbiß morning. i united pbkßß association. i Mastebton, This Dat. Tho engineer of tho Kiwi states that all hands got ashore safely, but nothing else on board was saved — not even the men's effects. _____________________