THE WRECKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13235, 21 July 1906, Page 6

THE WRECKS.

A VISIT TO THE AOTEA. BENZINE VAPOUR PREVENTS EXPLORATION. [BY TELEGRAPH.— I'RESS ASSOCIATION.] Gisbor.ve, Friday. Mb. J. J. Fry visited the wreck of the Aotea to-day. He reports that it is possible to ride round the vessel at low water, and that the hull is apparently undamaged. : Several holes have been cut in the sides to allow an entry to be made, but, owing to strong indications of benzine ; vapour, it has been deemed unsafe to strike a ' light, and therefore ; it : is'impossible to explore the interior. Very little cargo has come ashore,, only few sacks 'of flour and cases of kerosene having: been picked up. ; Mr. Fry considers it will be possible to salvage the boat and cargo. - [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN ; CORRESPONDENT.] Gisbobne, Friday. The young man, Consefcta Rossa, one of the crew of the Aotea, deserted from an Italian warship at Auckland some little time ago, having, he said, been cruelly treated. He is described by friends here as a most gentlemanly young fellow, and his behaviour bore out his statement that he was fairly welt connected in Italy.

THE SIR HENRY: [BY TKLEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.], s . ■ . . . ' -. Gisboenb, Friday. The Poverty, Bay Herald correspondent of East Cape, referring to the wreck of the ketch .'Sir ', Henry, f. states \ that -.'the vessel ; ; was " 'seen % ; running , before • a furious gale, and evidently "at the "mercy of a, terrific .sea then ; running, by the natives on ,the seashore; who were -powerless to render, assistance.; She followed a track almost similar to that along which the scow Whakapae was borne, when, four years ago,"that vessel came to grief, being driven in between East Island and the mainland, on to the rocky ledges that jut - out from the coast at this point, and where the sea, sweeping through a narrow straight, breaks in great turmoil. ;■ Two of the crewwere seen by the lighthouse people , swimming, and they made a brave struggle, sue- • ceeding in getting within a quarter of a mile of the shore before they were overcome in the heavy breakers. ! r .' The natives were in readiness lie dash in and -try and rescue the crew, but they did not get close enough to the shore. \

■ ,;■ Messrs". > Carder Bros, and Co. request us to state that they were the consignors of the drainpipes shipped by the Sir Henry, to the order, of a Palmerston North firm";