WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 291, 14 June 1907, Page 3

WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

CAPTAIN AND TWO PASSENGERS DROWNED. Auckland, Thursday. The following message was received by the Inspector of Police at 8.30 tonight: — •'The Kia Ora, on tbe journey from Waitara to Onehunga, was wrecked about thirty miles down the coast between Kawhia and Mokau, and Captain Blacklock and two passengers, Messrs Forbes and Ross, were drowned. There are 27 survivors on the coast stranded some distance from any settlement." At 8.45 the following mesage was received from Constable McCarthy: " Have received word that the Kia Ora has been wrecked 20 miles beyond Kawhia, on a very rough and inaccessible coast. Two passengers, Messrs Forbes and Ross, are reported to have been drowned. Ross is said to belong to Hawera. There are 27 survivors ashore, and they are without food and shelter. The settlers have gone to- their assistance with food. The sea is too rough for a boat to leave Kawhia." Constable McCarthy is leaving for the scene. The track is through very rough and broke i country. The Kia Ora was on her way to Kawhia from Waitara, and struck near Turua Point, about 30 miles distant between Kawhia and Mokau, about 3 o'clock this morning. The vessel, it is stated, immediately sank. The weather was not rough, tut there was unusually heavy fog. Captain Blacklock and two paseengero, Forbes and Ross, both believed to belong to Hawera, were drowned, the captain going down with his ship. There are about 27 survivors, a dozen being passengers, all for Kawhia and Raglan. The place is about four miles from the nearest settler's house and a most inaccessible and desotaate spot. Settlers have gone down with provisions, but wltt not get there till daylight .to-morrow morning. In the meantune the ship-wrecked people will be without food or shelter. A constable from K*whia and party ere going to the spot to-morrow. There ia one sea-going boat now at Kawhia, but it is only a small vessel and could not possibly make the coast. This boat arrived at Kawhia this* afternoon, and called at a place notjfwr distant from where the wreck has* occurred, but did not see anything. The only hope the survivors have is overland. Auckland, June 14. Captain Blacklock, master of Kia Ora, is a married man, aged 35 years, and leaves a wife and three children. The name of the officers and the crew are— C. B. Dewolfe, first mate; James Robertson, second mate; E. L. Baggstrom. chief engineer; H. L. Lister, second engineer; W. Hodgson, W. Dunning, W. Bymes. firemen; F. , Martenson, Thomas Chambers, A. Anderson, J. Morris, and D. Forbes, a.b.'s ; J. A. Peterson, chief steward ; W. J. Hajrnes, assistant steward ; W. Johnston, cadet steward; A. J. Kellerj stewardess; R. Betts, cook; J. Decalmer, cook's boy. The Rarawa, after the rescue of •q^noraA"i,j aio^ 04 suan^ea 'sjoaiajus News of the Kia. Ora wreck was sent by a man who rode thirty-five mites to the nearest telephone station. The latest news ia to the effect that the survivors are haying a very bad time in an exposed situation, without food or clothing. A relief party, including Constable McCarthy and Dr. Jenkins, left Kawhia this morning for the scene, with food and clothing, and restoratives. Forbes, who was drowned, is believed to be a son of ex-Sergt. Forbes,who was well known in Auckland. The Kia Or* was uninsured, except in the company's own frnd. The ca'go wa3 a valuable one, and included flax valued at £600, shipped for Kawhia. Tfew Plymouth, June 14. Tbe Northern Company's steamer Rarawa, after landing Her passengers at the breakw«Hfr* this morning, left again at six oteiigk for the scene of the wreck of^* Kia Ora, tak-