WRECK OF THE STEAMER KIA ORA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 14 June 1907, Page 2

WRECK OF THE STEAMER KIA ORA.

lUV.EE I'UJIzUSU DUOWtWD. ' TWE.NTy.^KvTiN 6A /i.l). HARDSHIPS OF SURVIVORS. fc-HELTJERING I.V A DESOLATE SPOT. [United Pres3 Association.] At'CKtAKD, Thursday. Tlio following message was rteeived by the Inspector of Pu'ino at.8.30 ioniglit :— '■ Tlio e.n. Kia Ora. on lior journey from VVaitrra tj Onehunsa, wai wrosked abowt 33 miiea down ibe coast, botvreen Kawhia anil Mokau, anii Captain Blicklock and two passengcrß (Mr Forbes and Mr Koss) were drowned. Thero were 27 survivors stranded on the coast some distance from any settlement." At 8.45 p.m. thn following message was received from Constable McCarthy : —" Have received word, that Bs. BLia Orn has been wrecked 20 miles beyond Kawhia, on a very rough and inaccessible coast. Two passengers (named Forbes and Boss) are reported to have been drowned. Mr Ross is said to belong to Hawera. There are 27 survivors ashore, and tbey are without food or shelter. The settlera havo gone to their assistance, with fcod. The sea id too rough for a boat to Jeave Kawhia.. Constable McCarthy is leaving for tfee scene. The track is through rough and brplfen country." Z , Later. The Kia Ora was on her way to K-xwhia from Waitara, and.struck nesr Tuiua Point, v aboui 30 miles distant ber twecn Kawhia and the Mokau, about three o'clock thi3 morning. Tha information is meagre, and comes from Kawhia. The vessel, it is stated, immediately eank. TJie weather was not rongh, but there was an unusually heavy fog. Captain Blacklock and two passenders, named Forbes and Ross, both, it is believed, belonging to Hawera, were drowned, the captain noiag down with his ship. There are about 27 survivors, a dozen being pasßeD^ers, all for Kawhia and Raglan. The place of the wreck is four miles from the nearest settlers' house, and is a moat inaccessible and desolate spot. Settlers have gone down with provisions, but they will not get there till daylight to-morrow morning. In the meantime the shipwrecked people will te without food or shelter. A constable from Kawhia and party are going to the ppot .to-morrow. There ia ono seagoing boat now at Kawhia, but she is only a snip 11 vessel, and could not possibly make the coast, fhia boat arrived -at Kawhia this'aitarnoon. and called at a place not far distent from whero the wreck has occurred, bat she did not s:~e anything. The only hope the survivors have ig overland.