THE SUPPOSED WRECK OFF THE EAST CAPE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7383, 18 July 1885, Page 4

THE SUPPOSED WRECK OFF THE EAST CAPE.

THE WAIAPU SAFE. RETURN OF THE AWfIINA. Somewhat unexpectedly the tug Awhina, which was chartered on Wednesday last by a syndicate to proceed in eearch of the upturned veieel reported as being off the East Cape on Monday evening last by Captain Popham, of the «.s. Rotomahaua, returned to harbour after an unsuccessful trip, so far as the finding of any wrecked vessel was concerned ; but the result of her trip has proved that the schooner Waiapu is safe and sound, and bo far as a good search in the neighbourhood of the Cape can show, there is not a vestige to be seen of any wreokage of any description, and Captain Hutchieson, of the s.e. Suva, also bears this out, ae he had a sharp lookout kept from the time he left Gisborne on Thursday morning until after rounding the East Cape. There ie no doubt that Captain Skinner'a theory of a dead whale being the innocent cause of all the excitement is the true one.for those who went away in the tug-boat saw several whales in the vicinity of the East Cape, and no doubt what Captain Popham saw was a whale that the natives had succeeded in killing, but had failed to get to land. Captain Persson, who. it will be remembered, proceeded with the tug-boat in charge, on behalf of. the syndicate, has kindly furnished us with the following report of the trip : —On July 15 the steam tug Awhina left the Railway Wharf. Tiritiii was passed at 4.20 p.m., and the Watchman at 7 p.m. ; weather line and clear. At midnight a fresh E.S. E. wind spraug up, with a good soa. and the Awhina w.\a pitching and tumbling about a, good deal. Towards moraine; the wind moderated, and fell calm. At 7 a.m. passed White Island ;at 11.25 passed Caps Runaway ; weather fine. At noon run into a. fresh south-easterly wind, which gradually increased as we ueared the East Cape, with occasional showers, which were very thick whilst they lasted, and a nasty choppy sea from S.E., with a long, heavy easterly swell ; all hands keeping a sharp look-out from Linton Point. At 2.30 passed East Cape on the north side, and at 3 p.m. passed if on the east side, two milee distant. Stood S. by E., meeting s.s. Suva, passing close alongside of her. Inquired if she had seen any wreckage, to which she answered No. After leaving the Suva stood in shore, and down towards Walpori Point, but not the slightest vestige of wreckage could bo seen, but large bodies of kelp and small drift wood were to be seen everywhere, as well as two large whales gambolling about the Cape. From Waipora Point the Awhina stood from K. by N. towards the N.E., until about four miles outside of the Suva's track, thu« passing on all side* of the supposed position of the wreck. « e then stood from N.N.E. to N. until the East C*pe bore S.W. half W., distance about 14 miles; thence we stood W. half N., when ultimately tho night sot in, and we decided to return to Auckland as the weather was very threatening from the eastward and N.E. In pasting Kawakawa Bay saw two schooners at *nckor. One wan a white uchooner, and could be made out to bo the Waiapu, and the other a black vessel— the Waiwora—also bound for Gisborne. The latter had evidently run in there for shelter. According to the statement of Captain Popham, it there had been a wreck, and she had sunk, there would have been some signs of her floating about the Capo. The current seta N. by E. and S. by W., until the East Capes when it gradually curves round slowly until about tour miles north of the Cape, when it seta W. and E., the wind apparently from the sea, consequently, from the position in which the wreck was reported to be ssen, it wonld be almost impossible for the wreck to pass the East Cape, but should, according to the set of wind, sea, and tide, set on shore about Takarea Point. Tho tug appears to have behaved well and steamed well against a head sea. On tho way home the weather again oaine on thick with heavy rain until passing the Watchman, when it again cleared up.