THE THREE KINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14566, 31 December 1910, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE THREE KINGS.

I ill" ARTHUR P. COWIE. i .1

Tc many of the residents of Aucjkland, in fact, to residents of other Ne>Jr Zealand towns, and also to a large number of the travelling public, the very name I of the Three Kings stands for all that 1 the sailor and traveller fears most when [ approaching the North Island of our Do- ' minion. This is hardly to be wondered I at when one recalls such memories as the | wreck of the s.s. Elingamite. The writer ; formed one of a party which ventured put '; in search of hidden treasure some years i ago. The trip was interesting and inj structive. We left Auckland one cloudy I afternoon, when the lowering sky which ! was banking up from the east, indicated I had weather. A few hour?, run brought !'us abreast of Kuwait Island, that most beautiful of places, which offers a sheltering abode tor sailors and yachtsmen no matter how disturbed the elements may be. After giving our diver a chance to try his diving apparatus in deep, calm water, we heaved anchor and continued on our journey towards the North Cape. The writer 'held no official position amongst the party, being the only guest, I so was quite content to lie down under "'the small cabin table on a blanket, with j another blanket for a covering. We were j awakened in the early hours of the momi ing by heavy rolling ' and also by a heavy j shower of sea water. A voice called down the cabin stairway for the skipper, whose. J small cabin led from the saloon. In an almost impossibly short time the skipper was at the wheel, and comforted his vessel's restlessness by a few turns of the steam steering geer, as a mother quietens a feverish child. No wonder our small vessel plunged and heaved as we were off Cape Brett with a strong easterly blowing. When night fell we were off Hohora, the very place where the first news of the Elingamite disaster was wired on to Auckland. The wind had now veered ro.md to the west, so our careful skipper decided to anchor awhile in the shelter of the. land before venturing over 50 miles of troubled ocean. The directors and crew mused themselves by fishing for giant, schnapper, which fish were in abundance, and came up on the lines by twos and threes. After lunch on the day following, the directors consulted with the captain, and decided to make a start for our final destination, namely, the " Big King," which lies about 30 miles to the north-west of Cape Maria. Van Dieman. better known as the. North Cape of New Zealand. We gradually lessened | the distance to the Cape and then left ! the land. One was forgiven for having I persisted in mistaking ' the smaller " Kings" for sailing vessels at such a I distance, as their appearance, not count- ! ing the " Big King," resembled large mainI tails. Our skipper jocularly remarked j that " wa would not see any lights on the i island." We were favoured with a halfi grown moon, which cast fantastic shapes ! on the larce walls of water scurrying j past. The "writer greatly enjoyed lying ! down on the bridge deck smoking, and I chatting to the genial skipper, who was a "steering encyclopaedia." One touch of the wheel now and again assisted our ! small craft in negotiating the large, oily 1 waves. | We came to an anchorage on the southeastern side of the " Largo King" at about seven p.m. The moon was now in charge of the lighting arrangements, as the last ed <;low of the sun had disappeared. 1 The "lead" was heaved, and the sailor i examined the lower part of the weight, so ! as to be able to know the nature of the I ocean's bed. "Let go the anchor'" was the, order which came from the bridge, only to be answered by the echo of the order of those ready to obey, combined I with the rattle of the chains, and the splash, which reminded one of the lines in the Psalms of David, viz. : " Then are they glad for they are at rest, and so Thou bringesfc them into the haven, where tbew would be." After a refreshing '"night's rest, the question jon everyone's lips was. Shall we be able to visit the scene of the wreck to-day?" "Who will join the boat's crew" queried the directors, "so as to row ashore on a tour of inspection?" The writer's voice was blended amongst others who were anxious to see the very place, and touch the very rocks which had offered a sanctuary to the survivors of the illfated Elingamite. Our mate, a Russian Finn, took charge of the boat, and ' off ho went. After pulli ing for about four minutes, we reached I a rock shelf, with giant, seaweed growing down in massive dusters. Our mate, an experienced deep seaman, informed us that he intended using this sea growth as a buffer, in case the rowing boat should come unavoidably in contact with the rocks. The moment of landing was one of great suspense, as each one to alight had to go at a given signal from the mate justas a large oily swell brought the boat within safe distance. " Jump !" came the order, and one felt the power of discipline. When once safely landed on the ledge, a long climb, accentuated by many dangerous comers, came as the inevitable) course, leading to the top of this large island^ the "Big King." When half-way up, on looking down, the sight to be mei with was a grand one. The great ocean of the Pacific stretched out as if towards eternity. Just below the ledges of rocks, the clear waters showed many large fish, such as hapuka ana giant schnapper, seeking for food. 0, what a place for a fishcanning station, with a ready market waiting in Sydney and elsewhere. Up, up, up, at last we 'reached the summit. What a glorious seascape ! There in the distance loomed out the. North Cape, where the ever watchful eyes of the noble "'lghthouseI keepers scan the horizon. Any smoke by 1 day or fire b-" night issuing rom this island would be perceived most probably by the Cape Maria light-keeper, with the result that he would .communicate the news to Auckland, in case such should indicate shipwrecked crews signalling. This view from the top of the island partly helps to compensate for the treacb. erotis locality. One hears people speaking about the 'bare rocks, meaning these dreaded "Kings." Of course to a great extent this is true, but just as in rough lawless natures ono comes across redeeming features so also does this great volcanic rock show on its whole length traces of vegetation. There is water in any quantity, clear running, beautiful water. There is any amouft of firewood, also rich plots of grass, where hundreds of wild goats feed, undisturbed. The island tapers in the centre like unto an egg-boiling glass. It would reach from about Northcote to Chelsea, taking the distance from wharf to wharf. There are ' sheltered dells which are taken advantage of by the goats. I believe these animals were placed on the island by the Government for use of shipwrecked mariners. One cannot help wondering how shipwrecked people above all others arriving on such an island as this could possibly secure these goats so as to allay the gnawing pangs of hunger. Their inquisitive faces were turned towards us, wearing, as it were, expressions of disgust, as if they wondered whether man intended intruding everywhere! We adjourned to a sheltered grassy bank, alongside of a clear running stream, and enjoyed to the full the tasty lunch which had been provided by the cook, consisting of cheese, sandvriches, and biscuits, also nice hot tea, which we made ready on the island. Looking towards the wast, a distance of from three to five miles, one sees the smallest King, like unto a sail; ! it was on the sharp edge of this small j island, the most exposed, if possible, of the whole group, that the above-men-tioned wreck took place during a fog. The whole rock only covers a small windswept area. What a terrible place for a disaster, not oven a footing on the side for a bird let alone the chance for any frantic swimmer getting even a hold anywhere. The tide rip is extremely dangerous' off these islands, and the currents have been known to travel at tlie rate of seven knots an hour. The danger of drifting when in a fog passing the Kings is almost as bad as steaming,. as,, the currents.are -so treacherous. „./..,