THE WRECKED KARU

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 81, 6 April 1926, Page 10

THE WRECKED KARU

SLOWLY BREAKING UP HOPE OF SALVAGING TIMBEB. (By Talegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.") . AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr. W. C. Wright, of Onehunga, who purchased the'wreck of the Karu and her cargo as a sporting speculation for £20, has made a visit to the wreck in order to estimate the prospects of salvage. He reports that the vessel is now a battered wreck, and is slowly breaking up.' The heavy seas have stripped her deck cargo of timber and removed the funnel and bridge. Part of the bulwarks has gone, and although the two masts are still standing, the after one is shaky and liable to go over the side at any moment. The vessel's bows are clear of the water. It was about half tide when he reached the Karu, and as the vessel's bows were close to the rocks.there was no difficulty in getting on board. A fairly heavy sea was running, and the after part of the ship was awash, and occasionally water, ran up. the sloping deck to the fo'c'sle. All the deck cargo of timber had gone, but although the hatches had disappeared the timber cargo below was intae.t. "I bought the Karu on the strength of a photograph that I saw," said Mr. Wright, "and if the weather remains calm I think that the prospects of salvaging the timber are quite good.'' He added that he had interested.others in his venture, and they were now endeavouring to.charter a small steamer and several barges, and hoped to be able during, the fine weather to unload the timber out of the holds. That appeared to them to be the most feasible plan, as it was thought that the hull would hold together as long as it was packed with timber. The deck cargo ; of timber is strewn along the beach close to the wreck, and it was not known at the moment whether it could be salvaged.