MANAIA DOOMED

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 4

MANAIA DOOMED

ENGINE ROOM FLOODED ' A HEAVY LIST PASSENGERS’ STORIES. [Her United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June XL The Ngapuhi is expected' to arrive at Auckland shortly after 10 o’clock to-night with the passengers from the Manaia, which is ashore on the Watchman (Coromandel Peninsula). The work of transferring the passengers at the scene of the wreck w r as safely accomplished. The Ngapuhi was _at the scene for four hours, and sailed at 2.15 p.m. for Auckland. The Manaia appears to be doomed. The following message was sent out by Captain Norhury, at (5.50 p.m. “ Making water badly. Engine room getting flooded. Dynamos won’t last much longer. Ship has very bad list.” It has boon the policy of the Northern Steamship Company to carry most of its own risks. Thus in the balancesheet for the .year ended March 31 hast the sum of £56,730 was credited to the insurance account, and £19,1.11 to the insurance account No. 2, giving total reserve under this head of £75,841. Apart from that all the company’s vessels are covered by a T.L.O. (total loss only) policy, taken out with the ordinary insurance companies. The amount of the T.L.O. policy covering the Manaia was not available to-night. Her value may bo roughly stated’ at over £20,000. June 11 (Later). The Ngapuhi reached Auckland with the Marmia’s passengers shortly before 11 o’clock to-night. Passengers who were interviewed said the mishap was unattended by any sign of panic. The only indication that anything was amiss was the sudden grinding of the ship as she piled up on the reef hard and fast. Though all the passengers looked tired, scarcely any showed serious signs of their experience. Passengers said that the Manaia, when they left her at 2 o’clock this afternoon, had a decided list. The work of salvaging the luggage and the cargo was in progress. A later report is that the crew has left the wrecked vessel in the schooner Motu.

“ What we need more than anything is sleep,” said one of the passengers. “None of ns has had any since last night, though some were able to doze for a couple of hours on the Ngapuhi.” The steamer Marama, for Sydney, was delayed to take those passengers’ who were coming by the Manaia to join her, and who had been transferred to the Ngapuhi. The main concern of those transferring to tho Marama was as to the safety of their luggage. This was naturally somewhat disorganised, hut the officials worked hard, and few passengers boarded their new ship dissatisfied. All pay a tribute to the conduct of tho women and children, particularly the children. When tho ship struck, one passenger remarked that tho kiddies just stood by without a murmur. “The luckiest feature of the hap,” said a member of a theatrical company, “ was the fine weather. Had there been a south-easterly there would not have boon so many of us to tell the tale.” Ho added that the general impression was that tho Manaia was held up by only ono rock. The passage on the Ngapuhi was described as comfortable, and high tributes were paid to tho officers and tho crew of tho vessel. At 9.20 to-night the captain of tho Manaia reported that that vessel’s stokehold hnd engine room wore flooded. Romo of the crew were being transferred to the Rimu, which was standing by.