A DANGEROUS PLACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13285, 18 September 1906, Page 5

A DANGEROUS PLACE.

LIGHTHOUSE WANTED.

[BY TELEGRAPH. — I'RKSS ASSOCIATION.]

Gisiiornr, Monday. Referring to the Minister for Marine's reply to a Gisborne interviewer last week, that there were other places more in need of a lighthouse than Tuahine Point, and that- vessels kept outside the rocks when sailing along the coast, Captain Thos. Fernandez, the well-known Auckland shipmaster, expresses surprise that such statements should come from a gentleman said to possess considerable nautical experience, for lie is sure any master trading on the coast will corroborate his assertion that there is not such another dangerous locality on the coast of New Zealand. The rocks are eight to 10 miles off' the shore, and run parallel with the coast for a distance of 10 miles. In stating that several vessels have been lost whilst endeavouring to clear the rocks in thick weather, Captain Fernandez gives the following interesting particulars: — Many years ago the schooner Traveller's Bride left Napier with passengers, etc., for Auckland, and was never heard of afterwards. She was supposed to have been lost 011 the Ariel rocks. Then another vessel, the Colleen Bawn, was wrecked at Papawhariki, in trying to avoid the Ariel*. In this case there was no loss of life. Later on, some 40 years ago, the s.s. Star of the Evening was wrecked in a south-east gale somewhere between Tatapouri and Whangara, with the loss of nearly all hands. Survivors were on the foremast of the wrecked vessel for upwards of 48 hours before they were rescued. This vessel was bound from Napier to Auckland with cattle and passengers, and other vessels also disappeared in a mysterious manner. It is quite possible they were wrecked 011 this dangerous rock, and* it is most improbable that any wreckage could drift ashore owing, to the prevalence of westerly winds."