WRECK OF THE LYTTELTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 746, 18 June 1886, Page 30

WRECK OF THE LYTTELTON.

(united press association) TimarU;-Spline 12. A.S the ship Lyttelton, loaded with frozen meat, was being towed out of harbor, bound for London, this morning, at 8 o’clock, she wa3 wrecked. The Harbor Board fcug is now in Dunedin undergoing an overhaul, and the Union Company’s steamer Grafton, Captain Hill, was towing the Lyttelton to. sea. Opinions vary as to the cause of the accident

but it is generally believed that the fluke of anchor went through the ship s side, while others say she struck on a wreck. She sank within ten minutes, and the captain and crew were brought back to the breakwater iu the steamer. The Lyttelton is resting on the bottom, the sea washing over her decks. The tide is ebbing now (10.20 a.m.), and later it will be seen if it i* possible to raise her. The Lyttelton is lying a mile and a quarter off the Breakwater, nearly due north. The depth of water in that place is 28ft at high tide ; at low tide it be will 6ft or 7ft lets. It is impossible to learn exactly what was the cause of the disaster, so many theories having been put forth concerning it. _ What appears to be the moat feasible of these is, that her hawser got foul of the s:rew of the Graf ton, rendering the steamer powerless, and the captain of the Lyttelton, finding his vessel drifting on to the r..cks, dropped his ancher, and when the tug got to work agaiu the ship was towed over her auchor, the fl ilte of which tors a hole in her bottom, thus letting in the water. Onlookers say tint when they saw. her settling down a dense volume of steam was issuing from the funnel of therefrigeratingmachine. Ths3 continued for about half an hour, and then she had become submerged up to her decks. Some of the wharf hands declare that when the Lyttelton was baulieg off the breakwater they noticed that she struck something, and the surmise is that the anchor in being drawn up bumped against the side and made a hole. This is possible, but not so likely to fce'the real cause of the accident as the other theorv mentioned above, A salvage crew has been sent aboard to dismantle the vessel, but the chances of saving her from b'-comiug a total wreck are very remote The weather is now' fine, but should a sea spring un the Lyttelton will soon break up. Under the most favorable circumstances, the only means of saving her would be by pumping the wa’er out by means of steam power. Who is to plame for the disaster it would be premature to say at present, but it Is a fact that the vessel was fully a mile out of the course for vessels to go when being towed out of this hai Dor, as laid down by the regulations. It was reported that the Lyttelton bad struck the wreck of the Duke of Sutherland, but she was well to windward of the buov marking that spot. The vessel, has been ready for sea for the last three days, but owing to the absence of the Harbor Board’s tug, and to there not being any steamers in port, her dei arture was delayed till this morning. The insurances of the local shippers are as follow South Canterbury BefrigeratCompany, £3OOO ; Miles, Archer and Com pap v, £2500 ; Loan and Mercantile AgeECV.'£l2oo ; Canterbury Farmers’ Association, ’ £2OO . • Her total cargo is valued at £23,G00, of which about £IO,OOO was shipped at Tsmaru. Lloyd’s agent has telegraphed for the Marine Surveyor from Christchurch, but he cannot arrive here till this evening. 3.18 p.m.

The Collector of Customs has not yet decided when the preliminary inquiry into the wreck of the Lyttelton will be held. It will probablv be on Tuesday. The Harbor Board Jheld a private meeting to consider the situation to-day. It is understood that the local agent of the Company employed the Grafton lo tow the Lyttelton to sea on M 3 on responsibility, but the Secretary to the Harbor Board was opposed to that steamer doing the work. A rather heavy sea is running this afternoon, which prevents the diver going down to examine her. The vessel’s bead is towards the S.E., and is in a favorable position to meet the sea from that quarter. The crew managed to save all their belongings, but the captain lost everything, and bad only time to save the ship’s papers aDd chrono metes. . June 13. Tbs sea on Saturday night smashed up her deck fittiDgs and burst up the deck and after hatch. After inspection to-day, it was resolved to abandon her to the Underwriters. Dude.'* Saturday night the vessel . drifted afiorewards two ship’s lengths, and buried herself five feet. At low tide the water is level with the rails. The hull is still keeping together all and the vessel lies head to ge t, the bow pointing S.E. by S. The inquiry la to fee held on Tuesday. The vessel is to be sold on that day alto. Timaeu, June 14. At the preliminary inquiry now being held, ]pre=. s representatives are not permitted to be present ‘ The Collector of Customs, it is understood, is acting under instructions from the Maiine Department in Wellington. Timabu, June 15. The wreck of the ship Lyttelton with the machinery and coals was soid to-day for *,125 to a Company, who, it is understood intend to try to raise her. The wool and rabbitskms realized £4OO. The sails, boats, &c., was also soid ; the total sale being £9ll 15s. NothUDg fresh ia reucrled concerning the wreck. The sea is very calm, and no further damage is dene.