THE WRECKED AEON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13866, 28 September 1908, Page 5

THE WRECKED AEON.

SOME OF THE CARGO. SALVAGE PROSPECTS. ; I FROM inquiries made on board the steamer Gymeric yesterday, it appears that the cargo of the wrecked steamer Aeon con- ' sisted of about two and a-half million feet ": of Oregon pine, and 523 tons of general : cargo. This included 50 tons of onions, several oil engines, and-a large number of -■' cases of canned fruit and canned meat. There were 70 tons of general merchandise on boar"), for Apia, 183 tons for Auckland, and 270 tons for Australia, while of > the timber 950,000 ft was for Napier, and the balance for Australia. The Aeon was insured at Lloyd's, of I,<imlou. fov about £50,000. The cargo is .also well covered, some big lines being held in Sydney. The prospects of salvage ■were discussed in Sydney a few days ago by the underwriters concerned, but in view of the report from Captain Dowtiie, of the unfavourable position of the steamer, the chances were not considered bright. The .most serious drawback is, of course, the position of the wreck, the long stretch of oceuu to bo covered to reach Christmas Island, adding considerably to the cost of the salvage work. The R.M.S. Manuka, which was to pick up the castaways, was expected to reach Fnning Island early la/st week, from Vancouver, and the vessel was then to proceed at once to Christmas Island, and pick up the shipwrecked people, and bring them on to Sydney. Tho Manuka is expected to reach Fiji to-day, and she is due at Brisbane about October 4, and Sydney on ; ; October 6.