WIMMERA DISASTER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 149, 26 June 1945, Page 7

WIMMERA DISASTER

TRAGEDY OF LAST WAR

"It is officially announced that the Winrmera has been sunk north ot Auckland; 85 landed; 56 at present un- . accounted for." This was the a;st authentic news of one of tne worst disasters in New Zealand's pipping history which was flashed out by the Press' Association 27 years ago today. The Wimmera, a popular intercolonial trader of 3022 tons, owned-by Huddart 'Parker. Ltd.. was travelling from Auckland to Sydney on june.26, 1918, when she struck a mine, pA'esumably sown by the German raider "Wolf. During the last war th-? Woli operated in the Pacific and 1m Tasman Sea for some time, sowing mines, and was known to have spent a considerable time cruising up ana down north of Auckland. At the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the Wimmera it- was clear that the captain (Captain H. J. Kell) had treated warnings issued by the Admiralty too lightly. The Wimmera was struck near the stern and the social hall was smashed to pieces by the external explosions. Within two minutes the lights were extinguished but there was no panic among the passengers and crew, who j had to grope their way to the deck in the dark. It was moonlight and the sea was fairly smooth, and the fact that the vessel kept an even keel and that the wind was blowing towards the land helped materially to lessen the magnitude of the disaster. Captain Kell and several others remained on the ship to the last, refusing to embark in the boats. ■,-,., Survivors spoke of the splendid heroism of the officers and crew and said that the conduct of the women and children was beyond praise. Altogether 27 persons lost their lives. One family of 11 and one of seven were saved. ____„_„«.„____— BOXING p.A. DUNEDIN, This Day. After a colourless and uninteresting bout. Bos Murphy (Hutt Valley), 10.33, defeated Tommy Hansen (Wellington), 10.3|, on points, in a. professional boxing contest of 12 threeminute rounds at the Town Hall last .■■night. The attendance was nearly " 3COO. PA. INVERCARGILL, This Day. In one of the best fights seen in Invercargill for many years, Dick Baker (11.2), of Invercargill, beat Cliff Hanham (11.6), of Waimate, on points. Thej bout, of 10 rounds, was not for Hanham's New ' Zealand middleweight title.. The attendance was 1700.