The Burning of the Aotea.

Hastings Standard, Issue 390, 4 August 1897, Page 3

The Burning of the Aotea.

THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED. [By Telegraph.] (Per Press Association.) Gisborxe, August 3. Upon receipt of intelligence Common, Shelton and Co., local agents of the vessel, did all in their power to send help promptly, but were unfortunately handicapped by want of a suitable vessel. When the purser sent a request for assistance at 11.30 Mr Shelton tried his best to get a vessel away. Messrs Kennedy and Evans felt it would be" unsafe to venture out with their new oil engine engine boat, the Tawera, owing to the present unreliability of her engines and want of sufficient fuel for so long a journey, a consignment of it being on its way in the Aotea. Negotiations were then opened with Messrs Nelson Bros., and Mr Dewing expressed his willingness to let the launch Tuna go provided his principals in Hawke's Bay gave their consent. This was wired for, as well as consent from the Customs authorities at Wellington. Permission was granted, but the insurance compauies in Napier had to be consulted, and they refused. A big steamer, which is no doubt H.M.S. Plyades bound to Wellington, has stopped off Tokomaru Bay, about ten miles off, having been attracted by the flashlight from the mirror in the boat which the Aotea put out to sea. The boat is now returning, and no doubt the British warship may be depended upon to stand by and render assistance. The warship stopped and seemed to make towards the shore, but it is now dark and nothing can be seen except that the Aotea is still burning. There are a number of men on board rendering help, including Maoris. The fire was got under somewhat about 7 o'clock, but lately freshened up again, and Captain Skinner fears that he will lose his ship if assistance does not arrive soon. It will be hard luck after such a long fight. This day. At midnight there were hopes of saving the Aotea. The boat which put off to intercept the steamer returned after a long pull of many miles. The steamer saw them and stopped, but lost them again in the darkness and could not pick them up, though she put lip rockets and burned blue lights, and one of tbe men in the boat took off bis coat and set fire to it as a signal. The damage to the Aotea is estimated at £IOOO. The ship's walls were burned one place within threequarters of an inch thickness. The cargo was uninjured. Tokomaru, 9.30. The fire is now completely out. There are four feet of water in the hold. Tbe captain and crew are much exhausted, suffering from the effects of heat and smoke. The vessel is badly damaged but the extent has not yet been ascertained.