WRECK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 11 June 1926, Page 5

WRECK

THE MANAIA ASHORE OFF COROMANDEL PENINSULAR ASSISTANCE BEING SENT (United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Thin Day. Advice was received in, Auckland shortly before one o'clock this morning that the Northern Company's steamer Manaia had gone ashore on Slipper Island on a- trip from Tauranga to Auckland. The vessel was hard and fast, but was not in a dangerous' position. Captain Norbury advised that he was all right until this, morning. He asked for assistance.

Information of the accident to the Manaia was sent to Auckland by a wireless message from the ship, which struck at about 11.20. She left Tauranga at eight o'clock. At 2.30 this morning the Manaia reported that she was holding on to the reef with the propellers. The passengers were still on board. The weather is squally and the seas moderate, but she was bumping heavily. An earlier message had stated that it was intended to land the passengers in the ship's boats, but according to the latest advice this has not been clone. The ship is equipped with a small wireless set, which was installed in accordance with the regulations governing coastal vessels. Captain Norbury and First Officer Shirley are proficient wireless operators, and in addition Chief Steward Long has had experience as an operator. The Harbourmaster, Captain Sergeant, advised at 1 a.m. that -arrangements had been made to divert the Ngapuhi, then en route" from Whangarei to Auckland; so that she would proceed direct to Slipper Island to the assistance of the 'Manaia. . Up to 2.30 a.m. efforts to get in touch with the Ngapuhi by wheless had not succeeded, hut it was anticipated that failing wireless communication it would be possible to signal her from the TurifTri signal station. ' At 3 o'clock the weather off Slipper Island was reported to be easterly, with heavy rain falling. ' The Rimu was despatched from Auckland for the scene of the' wreck at 9 "a.m. :.... -.p. ,^,.-.:-..:.. \ . .:. ;

Slipper Island is two miles off the coast from C'oromandel Peninsula and four miles south-east from Tairoa Heads. The spot where the mishap occurred is about .100 miles from Auckland. The'.Manaia is a well known coastal steamer of 1159 tons, and was formerly the , Rotoiti, . owned hy the Union Steamship Company. She was purchased some years ago by the Northern Steamship Company, and at present is engaged in the service between Tauranga and Auckland. She was built at Dumbarton in 1898. Her dimensions are —Length 220 feet, breadth 33 feet, and depth 13 feet. '.-,'.. PASSENGER LIST TAURANGA, This Day Passengers on the Manaia are: Messrs Johnston, Fyfe, Topplin, Peters, Wilkinson, Harris (2), Capper, Kenny, Ludwig, Ciochetto, Mackrell, Hewlett, Sayer, Hille, Aitke'n; Jackson,. Patrick, Clark, Frost, Ferguson, Canning, Graham, Stein, Beele, Lee, Jethro, Lock, Peiryn," McKay, Benham, Meredith, 'Harrison; Masters. Dale (2); Mesdames Begg, Avery, Perryn, Abraham; Misses Abraham (3), Rich, McLeod, Brook, Bucknall, Steward (2), Lully, Best, .Scott, Pittaway, Stone,. Laurance (2).

WEATHER CALMER •'."''■'.'. AUCKLAND, This Day ■ The Star's Taurua correspondent wires that the Manaia is about one mile off Slipper Island, well up'on a reef-be-hind a small rocky island. He can see a two-masted scow standing by; Ths Northern-Coy's steamer has just arrived (10.15 a.m.). The Manaii is keeping steam up. The sea is moderate and the weather getting calmei - , though it is dull- and cloudy, but clearing. Mr Cory Wright's launch is on the way out. PASSENGERS BEING TAKEN OFF WELLINGTON, This DayRadio messages to the Secretary of the General Post Office state that the steamer, Ngapuhi was communicated with at 3 o'clock this morning.' The weather was then coming up and the Manaia was making water fairly fast. About 60 passengers were -aboard. At 10.44 this morning a fuither radio stated .:—"10.22 a.m., from Manaia: Ngapuhi now- taking passengers off. Two boats away safely." SCENE OF WRECK THAMES, This Day. The Manaia is ashore on Watchman, a small island a mile from Slipper Island, which is about 5 "miles from Tairua, on the east coast of Coromandel Peninsula. Watchman is about thirty feet high. The ship appears to be broadside on from Tairua, with a dip in her stern. She is in a very exposed position. 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 is rendering assistance. A fair sea is running. - .., ALL ; PASSENGERS TRANSFERRED AUCKLAND, This Day. A wireless at noon states that all the. Manaia passengers were transferred to the Ngapuhi.