STRANDED MANAIA

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1926, Page 5

STRANDED MANAIA

GOOD SEAMANSHIP.

PROBABLE TOTAL WRECK f NO SIGN OP PANIC. CARGO BEING SALVAGED. AUCKLAND, This Day. The Ngapuhi reached Auckland with the Manaia’s passengers shortly before 11 o’clock last night. The work of transferring the ’passengers from the wreck was safely accomplished, the Ngapuhi being at the scene for about four hours. Passengers who were interveiwed said that the wreck was not attended by any sign of panic. The only indication that anything was amiss was a 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 their experiences. They said that the Manaia, when they left her at 2 o’clock, had a decided list. The work of salvaging the luggage and cargo was in progress; but later a rfcport is that the crew have left the wrecked vessel, in the schooner Motu.

All pay tribute to the conduct of the women and children —particularly children—when tho ship struck. One passenger remarked: "The kiddies just stood by without a raurTnur. ’ ’

"The luckiest feature of the mishap,’ ’ said a member of a theatrical company, “was the fine weather. Had there been a south-easterly wind there would not have been 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 last night the captain of the Manaia reported that the vessel’s stokehold 'and engineroom were flooded. Some of the crew were being ■transferred to the Rimu, which was standing by.—Press Assn. BADLY HOLED. WATER RISING RAPIDLY. AUCKLAND, This Day. But little hope is entertained for the Manaia, Advice from Captain Norbury last night stated that the vessel was badly holed forward and that the water in the holds was rising rapidly. The vessel’s bow was so far on the reef that there, was no immediate danger of her sinking. The sea was smooth. A great deal .of cargo in the after holds had been transferred to the scow Mot.u. A message received at 11.5 p.m. stated that the Rimu had taken, off the crew, with the exception of five who are staying aboard.—Press Assn.

AMID SUNKEN REEFS. REMOVAL OF PASSENGERS. AUCKLAND, This Day. The Ngapuhi approached from the seaward side of the island, and Cap.tain Dorling kept the lead going, as he had foul ground and a line of Sunken reefs between his ship and the Manaia. It was then noted that the Manaia was hard and fast on a reef extending out frflm the south-east point of the island, with her bows high on the rocks and her stern riding low in deep water surrounding the r?eT. Although she had a slight list she was perfectly steady, the falling tide having left her firmly aground, and her engines were being used fo prevent her slipping off into deep. water. Captain Dorling brought Ms vessel up within a. mile of the stranded steamer and learned that the Manaia’s passengers were still aboard. It was then about 10 o’clock, with the wind from the north-east. Under these •(renditions the Manaia was in a comparatively sheltered position. Captain Norbury, of the Manaia, had taken the precaution to lower the Manaia’s boats into the water.

No time was lost in transporting' lier passengers to the Ngapuhi. This operation .was carried out in a most orderly manner. Approximately two lours were occupied iu effecting the transference, and when about 2 ,p.m. it was seen nothing more could be done the Ngapuhi took her departure •. for Auckland, which she reached shortly before 11 o'clock last evening.-—Press Assn. THREE BOUSING CHEERS. FOR OFFICERS AND CREW. ACCOUNTS OF~THE MISHAP. AUCKLAND, This Day. "I was asleep and was suddenly ■awakened by a grinding, biting sound,” said one woman passenger. *‘This was followed by a severe bumping. All the passengers were startled and mild panic ruled for a while. I heard women making desperate inquiries about their children. The crew soon informed us that the ship had | struck a reef and there was nothing

to be alarmed about. We all dressed 'v. hurriedly. We were supplied with lifebelts, and many put them on. Wo found out later that they wore not vented. The passengers all hurried on deck to see what had happened. It was misty and raining. Wo could see the laud quite plainly. Wc could also

see the rocks on which the Manaia was stranded. She appeared to be held hard and fast, and her propellers were kept going to keep her in her position. The lifeboats were swung out on the calm side in case of emergency. The whole thing appeared to be worse than it really was, because it was dark as all this preparation was going on. The Manaia struck at about 11.30 p.m. None of us got any more sleep. This was my first experience of the kind, and it was not very: terrible. The delay was the most annoying part of it.” Another passenger paid tribute to the general coolness of the passengers as a whofe. There was excitement at first, he said, but they soon became resigned to their position. He also referred to the confidence inspired by the captain, officers and crew. ’ They went about their work calmly and methodically. Fortunately no one was hurt. The vessel did not strike the reef with sufficient violence to throw the passengers from their berths. The work of transferring the passengers from the Manaia to the Ngapuhi in the Manaia’s lifeboats was also carried out without incident or mishap. Among the passengers were 24 members of the Stanley McKay Pantomime Company, one of whom stated: “The; wreck was not half as good as some of the stunts our company put across the footlights.” Before • the Manaia'a passengers dis- 1 embarked from the Ngapuhi they gave three rousing cheers for the officers and crew of the vessel for what they had done.—Press Assn.

HULL BADLY DAMAGED. CARGO AFLOAT. AUCKLAND, This Day. An inspection of the Manaia this morning showed that the hull was badly damaged and full of water, with cargo floating about in the holds. The “Star’s” representative on the Rimu wirelesses: “The vessel’s nose is on the rocksf held in position by two bow anchors. Everything possible has been transferred to the Rimu, including the ship’s compass and binnacle, dinner chairs, clocks, carpets and pieces of machinery. The Manaia ant! Rimu arc connected by lines, and the boats make trips without the use of oars.

“Tlie underwriters’ representative says that the rent in the Manaia’s bottom is considerable but the extent of the damage will not be known until it lias been examined by a diver.” — Press Assn. "