WRECK OF THE PLEIONE.

Evening Star, Issue 7473, 17 March 1888, Page 2

WRECK OF THE PLEIONE.

The ship had a large and miscellaneous cargo, and so far aa can be ascertained the insurances on it are :—Victoria, L 2.630 : National, L 2.000; Colonial, L 1,145; South British, L 950 ; New Zealand, L 924 ; Guardian, L 55; Union, L 1.817. The Thames and Mersey Company are also losers, but the amount iB unknown. The insurances on the ship are unknown, but she is valued at L 12.000. The officers are : Captain Culbert, W. Gray (first officer), and Messrs Liddiart and Bloomfield. The ship is broadside on. There was no water in the hold when she was abandoned. There is about 6ft of water on the lee side at low water. The captain is injured, but has gone to Field's to obtain accommodation for the passengers. Tha Waikanae Natives and Europeans are rendering what assistance they can, and offers of provisions, eta, are freely made. OTAKI, March 16. The Pleione went ashore at 2 a.m., and the captain decided to wait till daylight before attempting to land, and then succeeded in getting ashore without assistance from the shore. Three boats were lowered, being in charge of the captain, first mate, and second mate. On nearing the beach the captain's boat capsized, and one of the occupants (George Belshaw, A.8.) was drowned. Mrs Foster, a passenger, was taken from the water greatly exhausted, and the captain was also injured in the attempt to gain the shore. Both are, however, progressing favorably. The vessel is almost high and dry, but very little can be known as to her safety until the weather moderates. At present she is nuking no water. The special train from Waikanae returned to Wellington at 10.30, but none of the passengers or crew went to town, being too much fatigued to travel. The officers speak in high terms of the conduct of the passengers. Till the haze off Kapiti was seen, which Captain Culbert took for Stephens Island, no land had been 863n since leaving England. The Pleione was under fore, main, and mizzen topsails and jib when she struck. While in the Bay of Biscay a sailor named Haines was washed overboard and drowned. The correct insurances on the cargo are:— Victoria L 2.500, National L 2.000, Equitable L 2.000, Colonial Ll.lOO, South British L 920, Standard L 650, New Zealand L 920, Union LI,BOO, Guardian L 55, Thames and Mersey L 530.