COASTAL STEAMER ON THE ROCKS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3371, 12 June 1926, Page 9

COASTAL STEAMER ON THE ROCKS

Manaia Wrecked in Bay of Plenty

ALL PASSENGERS SAFE

[Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Juno 11

Advice was received at one o’clock this morning tl/"c the Northern Company’s steamer -Manaia went ashore at Slipper Island when on her way from Tauranga to Auckland. The vessel was hard and fast, but not in a dangerous position. Captain Norbury advised that ho would be alright until this morning ■and asked for assistance. Tho Manaia left Tauranga at 8 p.m and struck at 11.20 p.m. At 2.30 a.m., it was reported bji wireless that the vessel was holding on to the roof with tho propellers and that the passengers were still on board. The weather was squally and the seas moderate, but the vessel was bumping heavily. Well Up On Reef. Tho "Star’s” Tairua correspondent wires that the Manaia Is about one mile off Slipper Island, well up on the reef behind a small rocky island. One can see a two-masted scow standing by. A Northern Company’s steamer arrived at 10.15 a.m. The Manaia was keeping steam up, and the sea was moderate. The weather was getting calmer, and was dull and cloudy but clearing. Mr. Cory Wright’s launch vas on the way out. THE PASSENGERS’ LIST. TAURANGA Juno 11. Tho passengers on tho Manaia are Messrs. Johnston, Fyfo, Topplin, Peters, Wilkinson. Harris (2), Capper, Kenney, Ludwig, Ciochctto, Mackrcll, Hewlett, Sayer, Hillc, Aitkcn Jackson, Patrick, Clark, Frost, Fergusson, Canning, Graham, Stein, Beale, Lee Jethro, Lock, Porryn, McKay, Bontham, Meredith, Harrison, Masters, Dale (2), Mesdames Bcgg. Avery, Perryn, Abraham, Misses Abraham (3), Rich, McLeod, Brook, Buckneil, Stewart (2), Lully, Best, Scott, Pittaway, Stone and Laurancc (2). i TWO BOATS GET AWAY SAFELY. WELLINGTON, June 11. Radio messages to tho secretary of the General Post Office state that the steamer Ngapuhl was communicated with at three o’clock this morning. Bad weather was then coining up and the chip was making water fairly fast. About CO passengers were aboard at 1.44 this morning. A further radio message at 12.23 a.m. from the Manaia states; "The Ngapuhl is now taking the passengers off. Two boats have got away safely.” VESSEL IN DANGER. THAMES, Juno 11. Tho Manaia is ashore on tho Watchman a small island a mile from Slipper Island, which is about five miles from Tairua, on the east coast of the Coromandel peninsula. The Watchman is about 30 feet high. The ship appears to bo broadside on from Tairua with a dip in her stern. She is in a very exposed position, Mr. Cory Wright and party, of Tairua, proceeded early this morning by launch, but have not yet returned. At 10 a.m. the Ngapuhi arrived and was rendering assistance. A fair sea was then running. DETAILS OF THE CARGO. TAURANGA, Juno 11. The Manaia’s cargo includes 34 bales of hemp, 21 bales of tow, 34 bales of sheepskins, 63 cases of fruit, 12 .sacks of maize, 4 cases of bacon, a quantity of general cargo, and a Bur quantity of mail. PASSENGERS TRANSFERRED TO NGAPUHI. AUCKLAND, June 11. A wireless message at noon states that all the Manaia’s passengers have been transferred to the Ngapuhi. MANAIA A DOOMED SHIP. AUCKLAND, Last Night. The Ngapuhi is expected to arrive at Auckland shortly after ten o'clock to-night, with passengers from the Manaia. The work of transferring passengers at tho scene of the wreck was safely accomplished, tho Ngapuhi being at the scene for four hours, sailing at 2.15 p.m. tor Auckland. The Manaia. appears doomed. Tho following message was sent out by Captain Norbury, from the Manaia at 6.3 p.m. "Making water badly. Engine-room getting flooded: dynamos won’t last much longer. Ship has very heavy list.” It, lias been the policy of the Northern Steamship Company carry most, of its own risks, thus in the balance sheet for the year ended March 31 st last, the sum of £56,739 was credited to the insurance account, £19.111 to insurance account No. 2, giving the total received under this head of n 5,811. Apart from (fiat all Hie company’s vessels arc covered by a total loss policy taken out, wjl.ii ordinary insurance companies. The amount of tho T.L.O. policy covering (ho Minima was not available to-night. The value of iiio

1 - ■ : : ship may be roughly stated at over [ £20,000. ' PASSENGERS INTERVIEWED. ! ! * ' TRIBUTE TO WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AUCKLAND. Last Night. The Ngapuhi reached Auckland with the Manaia’s passengers shortly before eleven o’clock to-night. The passengers interviewed said the wreck was unattended by any sign ’of panic. The only indication that anything was amiss was sudden grinding as the ship piled up on the reef hard and 'fast. Though all the passengers looked tired, scarcely any showed serious signs of the experience. The passengers said that the Manaia, when they left her at two o’clock this afternoon, had a decided list. The work of salvaging the luggage and cargo, was in progress, but a later report is that the crew has left the wrecked vessel in the schooner Motu. “What Wc Need Is Sleep.” “What we need more than anything is sleep,” said one of the passengers. None of us has had any sloop since last night, though some wore able to doze for a couple of hours on the Ngapuhi." The steamer Marama, for Sydney, was delayed to take those passengers who were coming by the Manaia to join her, and transferred to the Ngapuhi. The main concern of those transferred to the Marama, was Vf safety of their luggage. This was naturally somewhat disorganised, but thcofCicials worked hard, and few passengers boarded Iheir new ship dis- ; satisfied. All pay tribute to the conduct of the women and children, particularly the children, when the ship struck. One passenger remarked that the kiddies just stood by without a murmur. Fine Weather Saves Disaster. “The -luckiest feature of the mishap," said a member of a theatrical company, “was the line weather. Had there been a south-easterly, there would not have boon so many of us to tell the tale. He added that the general impression was that the Manaia. was held up by only one rock. The passage on the Ngapuhi was described as comfortable, and high tributes were paid to the officers and crew of the vessel. At 9.20 p.m. 10-night the captain of the. Manaia reported that the Manaia’s stokehold and engine-room were tiood--1 cd. Some of the crew are being transferred to the Rtmn, which is standing- l,y.