ANOTHER FIJI WRECK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17328, 27 November 1919, Page 7

ANOTHER FIJI WRECK.

.«. SCHOONER STRIKES REEF. PASSENGERS AND CREW LAND. [from our OWN correspondent.] SUVA (Fiji), Nov. 18. The three-masted auxiliary schooner ' Gilbert Islands, 302 tons, and owned by Burns, Philp and Company, ran ashore on the reef at Likuri, on the south-west corner of Viti Levu, at midnight on Fri- . day, November 14. ! The vessel was on her return trip from Wallis Island, and R-otuma, with a. full cargo of copra and passengers. She was ■ under the command of Captain Robertson. I The C.S.R. Co.'s steamer Fiona, passing I from Lautoka, noticed distress signa.s at :2 a.m., and stood by. At dayl ght she found the schooner hanging on the edge of the reef. She sent in a boat and removed the passengers and most of the crew. The captain and officers stood by the vessel. The passengers and crew were landed at Laucala Bay, and came on to Suva. The schooner Chaiseue and another boat were despatched on Saturday to Likuri, to try to salvage the cargo. Latest news yesterday was that there ! was a heavy sea, and that the vessel was fast breaking up. As the current at this point sets off the island, it is feared by old coasters that most of the copra will float off to sea. The Gilbert Islands had just taken over the trip run for so many years by the little steamer Motusa, which has been laid up.