WRECK OF THE PLEIONE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1882, 17 March 1888, Page 2

WRECK OF THE PLEIONE.

FURTHER SAB.TICT3IARS.

(PER, PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, March 16.

Great excitement was caused in town at 11 a.m. when a telephone message was received that the Shaw, Saville, and Go.'s well-known ship Pleione had run ashore on a spit two miles tc the northward of the Waikanae River. The Pleione left London on 23rd December, aud was, therefore, 84 days out ; and, had not a mishap occurred, would probably have reached here iin another two dajß, lYms making a good run. Immediately news was reI ceived, a special train was despatched to the station neatest, the bcbtxq oC disaster, but unfortunately the wires were interrupted, and beyond a short message, nothing has come through. Captain Bendall, of the Underwriters' Association, who has been at Waitara in connection with the Bellinger accident, has decided j to leave for Waikanae at once, and will be there to-morrow. The ship had a | large and miscellaneous cargo, and so far 1 2is can be ascertained, insurances on this are— Victoria, JG2630 ; National, £2000 ; (Colonial, £1145; South British, £950; New Zealand, .£923; Guardian, £55; Union, Tbe Thames Mersey Co. I ib also a loser, but the amount is unknown. Insurances on ship unknown, but she is valued at £12,000. OTAKI, 3.36. The Pleione is ashore two miles north of Waikanae river. All the passengers (6) and crew were saved, with the exception of a seaman named Belshaw, who was drowned. One lady passenger has been sent to Field's, in a critical state, the boat having capsized in the surf. The cause of the wreck is supposed to be the mistake of Kapiti Island for Stephen's. The officers are — Captain Culbert; Gray, first officer ; Liddiard, second ; Bloomfield, third. The ship is broadside on, and no water was in the hold when abandoned. There is about six feet of water on the lee side at low water. Tbe captain is injured, but has gone to Field's to obtain accommodation for the passengers. The Waikanae natives and Europeans are rendering what assistance they can, and offers of provisions, etc., are freely made. I OTAKI, 9 a.m. The Pleione went ashore at 2 a.m., and , the captain decided to wait till daylight before attempting to land and he then succeeded in getting ashore without asssistance from the shore. Three boats were lowered being placed in the charge of the captain, first mate, and second mate, on nearing the beach the captain's boat was capsised, and one of the occupants a seaman named Geo. Belshaw an elderly man, was drowned. Mrs. Poster, a passenger, was taken from the water greatly exhaused, and the captain also was injured in the attempt to gain the shore. Both are progressing favorably. The vessel is now almost high and dry, but very little can be known as to the safety of the vessel until the weather moderates. At present she is making no viater. A namber of boats have been removing the seamen's belongings and provisions from the ship. The special train from Waikanae returned to Wellington at 10.30, but none of the passengers or crew went to town being too much fatigued to travel. WELLINGTON, March 17.

The officers speak in high terms of the conduct of the passengers of the Pleione. Till the haze of Kapiti was seen, which Captain Culbert took for Stephen Island, no laud had been seen since leaving England. The Pleione was under fore, main, and rnizzen topsails and jib when she struck. The body ot the sailor drowned has not yet been recovered. On the voyage, while in the Bay of Biscay, a sailor named Haynes was washed overboard and drowned.