WRECKED MANAIA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4987, 14 June 1926, Page 2

WRECKED MANAIA.

CARGO FLOATING IN HOLDS. SALVAGE WORK IN PROGRESS. Tiie Northern Company’s steamer Manaia„ which went ashore on a reef at the southern end of Slipper Island on Thursday night, while on the way from Tauranga to Auckland, is. now regarded as a total wreck. An inspection of the vessel on Saturday morning showed that the hull was badly damaged and full of water. Ca.rgo was floating about in the holds. The sea became calm on Friday afternoon, and salvage operations were commenced. The Ngapuhi reached Auckland shortly after ten o’clock on Friday night with the Manaia s passengers, who spoke freely of their experiences. There were no signs of undue excitement when the steamer struck the reef, and after being assured that there was no immediate danger, the passengers settled down to await the arrival <lf the relief steamer.

POSITION THOUGHT HOPELESS. NOSE TILTED iON ROCKS. Throughout Saturday morning the Manaia was lying steady, with her nose tilted on the rocks, and held in position by two bow anchors. The steamer resounded to the clang of ha,miners. Everything portable, including the ship’s compass and binnacle, dining chairs, clocks, pieces of machinery, carpets, lamps, and cargo, was loa.ded into small boa.ts and transferred to the Rimu.

The Manaia, meantime, had been connected witli the Rimu by lines, the boats thus making trips without the use of oars. The extent of the damage to the hull, the worst of which was caused as the ship pounded bn the rocks on Thursday night and Friday morning, can be gauged when it is realised that there is water in all parts of the vessel, rising and falling with the motion of the sea.

A representative df the marine underwriters says tha.t the rent in the bottom is considerable, but the exact damage c,annot be known until an examination has been made by a diver. .The position, however, is thought to be hopeless.