TONGARIRO ASHORE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13660, 31 August 1916, Page 4

TONGARIRO ASHORE.

NEAR BULL ROOK, MAHIA.

REPORTED IN A BAD WAY,

(Per Press Association.) NAPIER, August '3O. The New Zealand Shipping Company's big steamer Tongariro is ashore on Bull Eock, Portland Island, near Mahia Peninsula. .It is reported the vessel is in a bad way. The Arahiira left at 8 p.m. for the scene of'the disaster. . GISBORN,E, AugustUo. , The vessel lis ashore'midway between Gisborne, and -'Napier, She'' has summoned assistance and the Westralia and Calm have been despatched post haste from Gisborne. No further facts are available as the scene is a long way from a telegraph station.

Bull Rock, on which the Tongariro is believed to have struck is four miles N.N.E. of Portland, and about four miles from the shore. The Tongariro was en route from Auckland to "Wellington, Auckland having been her first port of call in New Zealand, The vessel passed East Cape going sou th at 10.20 this'morning, and would be off Portland, about seven or eight o'clock. The first distress wireless call was picked up by the Westralia in Gisborne roadstead shortly before eight o'clock, and messages continued until about 8.11) p.m., when one came through "Power 'failing:''>' ' •FiVe'niiimtes' later Vnotlier stated, "Not off yet," but after that the Inessages ceased. The Westralia at once censed cargo operations, and hurried south', .iirst.signalling.fo the steamer Calm which was also about to leave for Napier to keep close to'shore, and be of any assistance possible. ,- Both vessels were racing south at full speed within half an hour of receiving the distress signals, The Richardson Company's Kouaimui left Gisborne for Napier at 3 p.m. and would be close to the scene of the mishap at eight o'clock. She i H a S m a l| vessel, and so would- probably be able to get close to the Tongariro.

Messages from Wniron indicate that the settlers on Mahia. report that the Tongnriro is about four miles off the shore in ji .precsuriotis' eondition. The Arahnra from Napier should reach the scene of the mt.sliap ahout midnight, shortly after the Westralia. The Westralia took most of her passengers and her cargo from Napier, hut about thirty passengers, including the Allan Wilkie Shakespeare Company, and Mr Victor Grayson, English socialist, were left lioliiml, Probably the Arahnra will make the journey from Gisborne to Napier to-morrow.

VESSEL SINKING RAPIDLY. , LATEST REPORT FROM LOCALITY. .. (l'er Press Association.) NAPIER, Augusts. •■ A telephone message from Wairoa police station stated that the Tonjrariro was sinking rapidly, The Vessel .struck a pinnacle of Bell' Rock, not Bull Rock, ■ S.s. Arahnra left .with the local manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company on board, leaving her passengers and cargo behind on the wharf. Bell Rock is about two hours steam from Napier for ocean steamers.