WRECK OF THE S.S. TARANAKI ON THE KAREWHA ISLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 29, 3 December 1878, Page 2

WRECK OF THE S.S. TARANAKI ON THE KAREWHA ISLAND.

PASSENGERS AND CRBiV PAVED. FULL PARTICULAtIS OP THE DISASTER. The steamer Tarauaki, belonging to tho Union Company, was wrecked on Friday morning last, on the island of Karewha, about 6 miles from tho entrance of tho Bay of Plenty. The following are the par« tieulars of the occurrence : — The Taranaki left Auckland on Thursday, at 4 p.m. It was beautifully calm, but towards evening a heavy fog set in. Soon after 10 o'clock Captain Malcolm anchored, and remained so until a littlo after 3 o'clock, when as daylight set in the f»g lifted a little. We had about 75 passengers on board, including a very large number of women and children. The ship's hands numbered about 34, so that altogether we had about 100 souls on board. The morning was calm but very foggy, and we were under easy steam. Breakfast was rather late, and the boll did not ring till about 9 o'clock. The passengers on deck trooped down, and only a few had taken their seats when we felt the engines reversed, and almost instantly the ship struck heavily and bumped fourtin»es. Hushing on deck we found ourselves in a little rocky inlet, a precipice rising in front of us some 300 feet high. There were rocks on either side, and the bowsprit almost touched tho cliff. Ahead the sea was calm, but there was a good deal of swell on. The ship bumped heavily, and the water seemed shallow, so that there was no danger of slipping off into deep water. The tnginea were also kept full speed ahead as long as possible. Most of the passengers were up and dressed, end on the whole excellent order prevailed. Captain Malcolm was quite cool. Mr Holm, the chief officer, was most active. After a good deal of delay, and with no small amount of trouble, the four ship's boats were got out safely ; but it was three- quarters of an hour alter we struck before the first boat, with the women and children, got off from the ship, quickly followed by the second boat, with the remainder of the women. Some few men showed a disposition to rush the boats ; but the determined attiiude of one or two gentlemen who were shipping the women and children at the captain 1 * request stopped this. One gentleman threatened to throw over- board the first man who attempted to enter a boat till every woman and child was off. To find a safe place to land, we had to pull round a point which hid the ship from us We got all the women and children ashoro without any accident, and then the men all followed safely. The island on which we struck was Karewha or Lizard Island, a high, baro rock of perhaps a couple of acres in extent, and partly covered with karakas — trees of stunted growth. Captain Malcom stuck bravelj to bis ship, and the crews of the various boats worked with a will to land as much of the passengers' luggage as possible. About hall' past 1 0, the chief officer was dospatched with one of the boats to Taurauga, about seven or eight miles off, we supposed. In the meantime, the other boats continued to ply to the ship, which had now careened over on her port side, with the sea washing into the saloon, fore cabin, hold, and engine-room. A good stock of bread, butter, jam, and lemonade, was got ashore, as well as some cases of fruit, and the best was done to render .the {women and children comfortable. The sun was very hot, and the whole encamp* ment looked like a big picnic. About 1 o'clock the cutter Lancashire Lass hove in sight, and soon afterwards the Waratah. It took some time to make the island, and the Waratah came in first, sending in her boat with a keg of water, which was most acceptable. Captain Malcolm came round from the wreck, and being afraid of a change of wind, which would render embarkation difficult, ordered the women and children to get on board the cutter at once. The first boatload had just left when the smoke of a steamer was seen approaching. It was now about half-past 4 o'clock. The boats were stopped, and ia about half an hour the steamer Stsffu was olose by. All the passengers and luggage were quickly put on board the Staffa. Just as this was done the Kowena steamer came across also. Captain Malcolm, after seeing all safe, determined to remain by the wreck all night, and he and Mr Holm and a portion of the crew went on board the cutter. As Captain Malcoloj left the Staffa, the passengers gave him three hearty cheers . Ihe greatest sympathy is felt for him. It wag the second mate's watch when we struck, but the captain was on the bridge, and thore was a good look* out. It was, however, impossible to see fifty yards on any side when we struck, and the fist cry of land was little more than half a minute before we struck. We were, it seems, some three miles out of our course, and it is thought the error oocurretl through having drifted while at anchor in the night. The women behavrd admirably all through. We left the wreck at 7 o'clock, the fog being still very dense, and it commenced to rain

when wo got iaside the heads. \\ r e at last arrived at 9.30. Here we were most; hospitably received by the residents. The Taranaki is a tot.il wreulc, lying on her port side, which is all stove in. Her back is also said to be broken ; certainly sho can nover be got off, but if calm whethor oon* tinuos a good doal of the cargo may yet be savod. We had a marvellous escape, and are all deeply thaukful. The insurances so far ascertained are— South Britisk £2000 on hull, The Colonial has a general risk of £10,000 distributed on all the company's vessels. The New Zealand has a risk «f £750 on the hull, and the Union £80 on cargo. The Union Insurance Company also has a risk of £750 on the hull, insured in Christchurch. A later telegram says the Taranaki ie insured altogether for £16,500. Karewa Island, in the New Zealand Pilot, is described as follows:— "Karewa Island is small, rugged, and about half-a-mile in circumference, and about 350 feet high ; it is six miles N.W. by N. from Mongonui hill, off Tauranga Harbor; and is three miles from the main land, with 14 fathoms of water between and within one mile of the island." This is the second time that the Taranaki has been wxecked, for it will be remembered that on a former occasion she struck on a rock in Queen Charlotte Sound, and sank, remaining under water more than a year before she was raised and refitted by the Wellington Steam Navigation Company.