LOST STEAMER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22476, 21 July 1936, Page 8

LOST STEAMER

PEOPEETY SALVAGED f little CHANGE IN POSITION __ INSURANCES NOT AVAILABLE • ' SHIP'S CARGO MAY BE SOLD\ [BY TELEGRAPH —FRESB ASSOCIATION] GBEYMOUTH, Monday There is little change in the position of the wrecked Abel Tasman. The crew's belongings and the ship's articles and instruments were -brought ashore to-day by means of a basket on a line which ran from the Harbour Board derrick at the north tip to the ship'i poop deck. The ship is firmly embedded, and lies motionless nearly parall»l to the north breakwater. The hull is insured with the Batavia Insurance Company and the Royal Exchange, but figures are not available. <5 It is understood that the underwriters do not intend to attempt the salvage of the cargo, which would be too hazardous, and the timber and other cargo is expected to be sold by tender. Little Debris Coming Ashore Not much more timber and cargo has yet been washed from the vessel. From her position, it is thought she may take some time to break up. The preliminary inquiry into the wreck is proceeding. The crew are espected to leave on Thursday for their homes in Australia. The Shipwreck Relief Society ha* made a grant of £5 a man for clothing. The master, Captain W. D. Archibald, the chief officer, Mr. P. Dalziel, the boatswain, Mr. C. Paulsen, and a seaman, Mr. E. Winby, boarded the wreck this afternoon, Mr. Winby leading. The difficult and arduous task was safely accomplished, and all the available properties were landed by 5 p.m. Mr. Winbv, however, was unable to recover his savings of £l6. but the chief officer secured £7O which ha had left on board. The Boatswain's Joke The boatswain caused amusement bj sending ashore a rice pudding in a piodish, the cook enjoying the joke. It is not possible yet to ascertain if the broken link in the mooring chain that snapped was faulty. The other chain is unbroken, and evidently slipped through the compressor, running itself over the windlass, where the starboard chain broke. It is recalled that Captain Archibald 14 years ago, when mate of the Joan Craig, figured here in the rescue of two young ladies at Blaketown Beach, when six men frojn Reefton lost their lives in a bathing disaster. The greaser, Mr. William Pitt, hag been sent to hospital with a chest injury and a poisoned finger.