EAST COAST “WRECK.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2168, 26 August 1920, Page 3

EAST COAST “WRECK.”

VISIBLE ALL DAY,

OBSERVERS ADHERE TO STATEMENTS.

Gisborne, August 24. Mr Graham, manager of the Rototaf.i Station, confirms the statement by Messrs MeCrae and Williams as to having, Avith bis sons, seen on Sunday morning, and again in the afternoon, a large steamer in distress. The fact that she avos such a distance out to sea and so-loav in the water would probably account for the Araburn and Monowai passing without noticing anything. The watchers on land, being at a height of about 1,500 ft., Avere naturally able to sec a great distance further 11mu the sea level. Mr Graham says the vessel Avas visible as long as daylight lasted. It is understood the Kia Ora was not in (he vicinity, but Avon I to Hicks’ Bav for shelter.

The fad that vessels do disappear, wit hold any trace of Avreckage, is noteworthy, says the Times.

For example, there was Hie Waratal], Avbicli disappeared a f'oAV years before (lie war, between Durban and CapetoAvn, and left no sign. Again, years ago, in the middle ’sixties, the City of Dunedin steamer sailed for the West Coast of the South Island from Wellington, and disappeared, leaving no Avreekage. Years later a desk avus picked up, supposed to have come from this vessel, but there avus, so far as - we knoAV, no certainly. [This vessel, by the way, was Hie one in which Messrs 0. and 11. Coley arrived in Wellington, together Avith their mother, Mr Coley sour, haviqg come out in an earlier A-essel. Mr O. Coley informs us that (he ill-fated City of Dunedin avus a paddle steamer.) The absence of Avreekage in the present instance is, therefore, not conclusive. Neither is Hie unexpectedness, of an arriving vessel, for vessels got driven out of their course not infrequently. We all must hope that there was no loss in this (-use. But there is an unpleasant amount of uncertainly.