ON SLIPPER ROCKS

Evening Star, Issue 19273, 11 June 1926, Page 6

ON SLIPPER ROCKS

STEAMER MANAIA ASHORE RELIEF SHIPS ARRIVE PASSENGERS TAKEN OFF Wireless advice was received at Auckland early yesterday morning that the steamer Manaia, from Tauranga, ran ashore on Slipper Island, Mercury Bay.

[Per United PHess Association.] WELLINGTON, June 11. The following distress signal was received from the steamer Manaia by tho Wellington radio station at 11.35 last night:—“ 5.0.5.; Manaia on Slipper Rocks.” Further messages stated that the captain thought the vessel to ho o.k. till morning, but he desired assistance to he sent at once for the passengers. The Manaia was formerly the Union Company’s Rotoiti. She now belongs to the Northern Steamship Company. Her tonnage is 1,159 gross. AUCKLAND, June 11.

Advice was received in Auckland shortly before 1 o’clock this morning that the Northern Company s steamer Manaia had gone ashore on Slipper Island on the trip from Tauranga to Auckland. The vessel "was hard and fast, but was not in a dangerous position. Captain Norbury advised that he was all right until this morning, and he asked for assistance. Information of the accident to the Manaia was sent to Auckland by a wireless message J from tho vessel, which struck at about twenty minutes past 11 o’clock. She left Tauranga at 6 p.m. At half-past 2 this morning the Manaia was reported to he holding on to the reef with her propellers, and the passengers were still on hoard. The weather is squally and the seas moderate, but she is bumping heavily. An earlier message had stated that it was intended to land the passengers in the ship’s boats, but, according to tho ffitest advice, this had not been done. Tho ship is, equipped with a small wireless set, which was installed in accordance with the regulations governing coastal vessels. Captain Norhury and the first officer (Mr Shirley) are proficient wireless operators, and, in addition, the chief steward (Mr Long) has had experience as an operator.

The harbor master, Captain Sergeant, advised at 1 a.m. that arrangements had been made to divert the Ngapuhi, then en route from Whangarei to Auckland, so that she would proceed direct to Slipper Island to the assistance of the Manaia. Up to 2.30 a.m. efforts to get in touch with the Ngapuhi by wireless had not succeeded, but it was anticipated that, failing wireless communication, it would, be possible to signal her from Tiritiri Signal Station.

At 3 o’clock the weather off Slipper Island was reported to be easterly, with heavy rain falling. The Eimu was dispatched from Auckland for the scene of the wreck at 9 a.m.

Slipper Island is two miles off the coast from Coromandel Peninsula, and four miles south-east from Tairoa Head. The spot where the mishap occurred is about 100 miles from Auckland.

The Manaia is a well-known coastal steamer of 1,159 tons. She was formerly tho Rotoiti, owned by the Union Steam Ship Company. She was purchased some years ago by the Northern Steamship Company, and at present is engaged in the service between Tauranga and Auckland. Sbo was built at Dumbarton in 1898. Her dimensions are:—Length 220 ft, breadth 33ft, and depth 13ft. WEDGED m REEF WATER RISING 111 HOLDS STEAMER AND SCOW STAND BY. AUCKLAND, later. The ‘Star’s’ Tairua correspondent wires: The Manaia is about one mile off Slipper Island, well up on the reef behind a small rocky island. A twomasted scow is standing by. The Northern Company’s steamer has just arrived (10.15 a.m.). Tho Manaia is keeping steam up. Tho sea is moderate, and the weather is getting calmer. It is dull and cloudy, hut is clearing. Cory Wright’s launch is on its way out.

A Whitianga correspondent wired at 11.5 aim.: The Manaia is making water. She is being held on tho rocks by her propellers.

HGAPUH! TAKES PASSENGERS OFF [Pan United Pbess Association. 1 WELLINGTON, Juno 11. A radio message to the secretary of the General Post Office states that the steamer Ngapnhi was communicated with at 3 this morning. The weather was then coming up, and the Manaia was making .water fairly fast. About sixty passengers are aboard. At 10.44 this morning a further radio stated:—“lo.22 a.m., from Manaia: Ngapuhi is now taking tho passengers off. Two boats have got away safely.” AUCKLAND, June 11. A wireless at noon stated that all the Manaia’s passengers had been transferred to the Ngapnhi. THE PASSENGER LIST TAURANGA, June 11. The passengers on the Manaia are:— Messrs Johnston, Fyfe, Topplin, Peters, Wilkinson, Harris (2), Capper, Kenny, Ludwig Ciochetto, Mackrell, Hewlett, Sayer, Hille, Aitken, Jackson, Patrick, Clark, Frost, Fergusson, Canning, Graham Stein, Beale, Lee, Jethro, Lock, Perry n, M‘Kay, Bonham, Meredith, Harrison, Masters Dale (2), Mesdames Begg, Avery, Perryn, Abraham, Misses Abraham (3), Rich, M'Leod, Brook, Bucknall, Stewart (2), Lully, Best, Scott, Pittaway, Stone, and Laura nco (2). THE KAHAIA'S CARGO TAURANGA, June 11. The Manaia’s cargo includes 34 bales of hemp, 21 bales of tow, 34 bales of sheepskins, 63 cases of fruit, 21 sacks of maize, 4 cases of bacon, and a quantity of general cargo ana mail. The island is owned by Messrs G. and W. M'Lauglilin, and its area of 600 acres is used ns a sheep run. It is about forty miles from Tauranga- and three miles of Tairua Harbor.