THE TEKAPO ASHORE.

Evening Star, Issue 10933, 16 May 1899, Page 2

THE TEKAPO ASHORE.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

. . SYDNEY, May 16. Ihe steamer Tekapo, which left Sydney last night for Port Kembla to load coal, has gone ashore at Marouba Bay, the scene of the Hereward wreck. The crew are safe. The weather is now very fine and calm. ' XjATCSR A , P fo , a3 Association representative reached the scene of . the stranding this morning, and found the Tekapo with her fore part fast on the rocks just inside the south head of Maroribu Bay, about a mile from the Hereward wreck. The vessel went ashore during a dense fog, between three and four o’clock this morning, She is now standing upright, with 10ft of water in the fore part, on the rocks. Her nose is high and dry at low water. There is deep water on both sides.

The bottom appears to be badly damaged. Some of the plates on the port side have been ripped open, and the forehold is partially filled with water. The vessel otherwise is dry. Five tugs are standing by. As the vessel went ashore at low tide it is expected that she will float when the tide makes this afternoen.

[Marouba Bay is about ten miles south 2, Sydney Heads.) ■

[Per United Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, May 16 The Tekapo was built in 1881 at Greenock by K.- Steel and Co., and was originally named Gape Clear. She was bought by the Union Company in 1884, and employed for some years in the Oaloutta trade. She was °? e o°L« he lar g eßfc vessels in the fleet, being of 2,439 tons, 1,600 horse-power, and could carry some 2,500 tons of cargo. In 1896 she received a thorough overhaul, and her passenger accommodation was somewhat reduced, but still she has room for eighty-two saloon and fifty-one steerage. She was then placed in the trade between Sydney and Launceston, under the command of Captain Gunns, and on that route, in carrying coal and produce, has been found to be very useful. Only two months ago she was fitted with the electric light. EXPECTED TO BE GOT OFF. The Union Company have placed the following cable, received from their Sydney office, at our d-sposal“The Tekapo, while proceeding to Kembla, went ashore about four miles south of Coogee, at four o’clock this morning in a thick fog. The weather is noe and the sea smooth ; deep water aft, making little water forward. Tugs have gone to her assistance, and it is hoped that mif come afc *“gh water about noon. r he um a . wera ia B eU ing ready to proceed to the Tekapo’s assistance at to-night’s tide, in case she is not off by mid-day.”