WRECK OF THE S.S. GAIRLOCH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1611, 14 January 1903, Page 19

WRECK OF THE S.S. GAIRLOCH

ASHORE ON THE TARANAKI

COAST.

A TOTAL LOSS

Early o ; n the Gth inst. the Secretary to the Postal Department received word from tho New Plymouth postmaster that the Northern Steamship Company’s s.s. Gairloch had been totallywrecked on the Taranaki coast. The Gairloch was a steel screw steamer, and was built in 1384 by Messrs Blackwood and Gordon, of Port Glasgow. She was 373 tons burthen, and was 164 ft 9in long, with a beam of 23ft. The depth of her hold was Bft 7in. Captain N. P. Austin commanded tho vessel, which had been -trading between Onehunga and Wanganui for some time past. NEW PLYMOUTH, January 6. The Gairloch left Onehunga on Saturday for Raglan and Kawhia, leaving tho latter port at 2 p.m. on Monday for Opunake and Wanganui. She had 90 tons of cargo, but no passengers. The crew numbered twenty-one. The sea was smooth, but the weather was very thick. Tho steamer grounded at twenty minutes to twelve. The crew remained ori board till daylight, and then proceeded in a boat to the breakwater, reaching there at 6.30 this morning. Captain Austin and the officers left again at 9 o’clock to see what salvage can be effected. Tho vessel is lying about a quarter of a mile from the beach, with her bottom out. She is a total wreck. Coming down the coast last night the Gairloch passed the Ngajpuhi, bound from the breakwater to Onehunga, so close that she had to sound her whistle to avoid a collision —the night was so dirty. AUCKLAND, January 6. The Northern Steamship Companydoes not insure its vessels, so that the loss of the Gairloch is a total one. Her value was about £12,000, but she cannot be replaced by so serviceable a vessel for that sum. This is the first vessel the company has lost through being wrecked. Other accidents have happened, but there have been no total losses. The company can also boast that not a single life has been lost through accidents to its vessels. Mr Charles Ran son , manager of tho Northern Steamship Company, left for New Plymouth to-day, and will go to the scene of the wreck to see what can be done in the way of salvage. The Gairloch’s cargo includes: —For Opunake. 308 hags sugar; for Wanganui, 2891 bags and 20 sacks sugar, 10,400 ft sawn timber, and sundries. The principal shippers Avere the Kauri Timber Company and the Colonial Sugar Company.