S. S. TARARUA.
LOSS OF THE
THE CAPTAIN AND ALL THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN DROWNED. LrREAT LOSS OF LIFE BESIDES. LIST OF PASSENGERS AND CREW. NAMES OF SURVIVORS. One of the saddest disasters in the annals o the cdonv occurred on the 29th ultimo, in the wreck of tho s.h. Tararna, of the Union Steam Company's line. The fine vessel was totally lost, anil with her nearly all the passengers and crew, including the captain. The following narrative is compiled from the telegraphic messages which from day to day have come to hand giving dctoi'a of the terrible mishap. The first intimation of anything amiss was I given in a b Ingram sent to us by the United Press Association, and which message was as follows : “ Inveroaimjill, April 29. • “ News has just reached town that the b.b. Tararna struck on the Otara or Waipapa Beef, near Toitois, All lives wore saved. At present the vessel p> close in shore.” The Tararna left Port Chalmers, for Melbourne. via the Blnff and Hobart, on Thursday, April 28. She was owned by the Union Steamship Company, and commanded by Captain Garrard. Her register wss 56S tons. She was convening the oat-going Sues mail, with which she left 'Wellington on Monday last. Thereof on which tho Tararna struck lies out from Waipapapa Point, tho extreme south-eastern corner of the South Island, It is situated abont thirty miles north of the Bluff, and nearly midway between the latter and Chasland’s Mistake, on which the s.s, Otago was wrecked. The point is a few miles north of Toitoi, the entrance to the Mataura River, a dangerous reef running oat some distance from the shore. The steamers Comerang and Easby each struck on it some years ago, but got off. The barque William Ackers was wrecked there about four years ago. The first news received by the Union Company was from the Bluff, at 10.30 a.m. It was expressing surprise that she had not arrived th+.re. Then at 12.30 a telegram was received from Wyndham, signed by one of her sailors, giving bare information :—“ Tararua ashore at (Jtarau Point, Passengers safe. Assistance wanted.” Mr. Tames Mills at once telegraphed to the Wyndßam operator whether, judging from what he heard from the sailor, would tho Hawea be sufficient. The operator replied that he thought so, upon which the Hawea was sent down to help. The point is far from settlement, on a part of the coast line heavily bushed; Wyndham, where the nearest telegraph office is, is a long way inland. The news of the terrible disaster occurring to this vessel and her freight of human souls was not anticipated from the tenor of the first messages. The incorrectness of these is accounted for by a messenger being sent off at full speed as soon as the first man had come ashore, and when the hope was strong that a few hours would see all aboard safely landedThere was nothing to indicate the misfortune then impending. On Saturday morning the first details of the real state of affairs came to hand from Invercargill in the following message : , Invercargill, April 30. The special correspondent of the Southland News wires from Toitoi as follows ' — Arrived here from Wyndham at 2.30 this (Saturday) morning. Tidings from the wreck are that a terrible disaster has happened. The Taraiua struck the Otara reef about half a mile from the shore, at 5 o'clock in the morning, it is supposed in a fog. The captain and chief mate reported below at time when it struck. Engineer tried to reverse engine, but broke his leg. The women rushed on deck in their nightdresses, and the heavy sea soon washed most of them away. Three boats were launched, but; were swamped at once. Another got away seaward, and one came ashore, landing five or six Men. The steamer has parted amidships. Numbers of people have perished, and several are still clinging to the wreck. A man with a child in his arras is lashed in the rigging A great rainy settlers are on the beach anxious to render assistance, and many are turning heartsick at seeing their fellowcreatures perish before their eyes, and they unable to help. The total number who are saved so far are twelve men. It is supposed all the women and children have perished. The beach is strewn with the wreck and cargo. Several photos have been picked up, but only one body had washed ashore. Last night, it is said, the cries were heartrending when the people on the wreck saw those on shore leaving at dark. The following telegram to Mr. Garrard, of this city, brother of the captain of the steamer, from Mr. W. J. Willoocks, agent of the New Zealand Shipping Company at the Bluff, was received on the Saturday evening ; —“ Cook saved, states that the last he saw of Frank (Captain Garrard) was on the forecastle-head, with the women and children, immediately before the ship broke up. The chief officer is saved, but knows nothing. The Kakanui picked up the boat with the second mate and some of the crew. I fear the worst.” A telegram received at 9 o’clock Saturday evening by Mr. D. Mills, the local agent, from the telegraphic operator at Wyndham, gave the names of the survivors. They were Messrs. Lawrence from Lyttelton, Robins from Dunedin, Williams and Davis, from Wellington, Daly from Napier, Miss Chitterton from Auckland, and J. Titler from port unknown. These were passengers, but other two, names unknown, were also saved. The following of the craw were saved ; Robert Lindsay, chief officer ; Frank Denny ; John Wilson, chief cook ; Frank Bobey, and Thomas Dixon. It may be here mentioned that Mr. J. O. Eva, J.P., one among the lost, was a nephew of the Hon. Mr. Oliver, Minister of Public Works, and brother of Mr. Eva of the Telegraph Department. The deceased had been for many years connected with the firm of Oliver and Ulpli, hardware merchants in Dunedin, and was highly esteemed in commercial and social circles. At the time of his death he was manager of the Hardware Company. LIST OF PASSENGERS. The following is as complete a list of the passengers by the Tararna as the Union Company is able to supply : —From Dunedin to Melbourne : Saloon Messrs. W. O. Ramsay, J. O. Eva. Steerage—A. Rae, Geo. Grey, James Young, P. Anderson, William Dobson, J. Dobson, J. Bainbridge, Harry A. Cook, C. Shrevan, M. Dowdell, H. N. G. Andrew, John Barry, Robert Wright. George Robins, George Martin, Anderson, Robert Brown. From Dunedin to Hobart— Steerage: Mr. and Mrs. Brj ant. From Dunedin to Bluff—Saloon : Mr. Bailey. From Auckland to Hobart—Steerage : Miss Mary Kelly. From Auckland to Melbourne—Saloon —Mr. William Bell ; steerage : Mrs. Den, Messrs.Chatterton.andSarah. From Tauranga For Hobart—Saloon : Mrs. Brennan and 3 children. From Napier to Melbourne —Steerage : Mr. J. Daly. From Wellington to Bluff—Mr. Penman. From Wellington to Melbourne Saloon : Mr. C. Burgett, Mr. S. T. B. Shaumarah, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. M. Downes. Steerage : Messrs, Tholin, O'Sullivan, Williams, Holt, Davis, G. Wiltshire. From Lyttelton to Bluff—Steerage : Messrs. Lawrence, Sharp, Boyle. Lyttelton to Melbourne —Revs. J. Waterhouse, J. B. Richardson, and J. Armitage, Mr. E. Connell, Mr. Mitchell, Dr. Campbell, wife, and 5 children, and nurse, Mrs. W. B. Junes, Messrs. J. Gordon, J. Waterhouse, C. Gough, Crawford, and Gillingham— Steerage : Mr. and Mrs. Hill and child, Messrs. J. Wallace, W. Young, B. Hanson, J. Sooon, T. Jones, Wm. White, Daniel Davis, Carl Carlberg, Neil Gough, Wm. Green, W. Bassett, J. Ashworth - Officers and others Captain, T. G. Garrard ; Chief Officer, L. Lindsay ; Second Officer, Maloney ; Chief Engineer, Alexander Munro; Second Engineer, Alex. Livingstone ; Third Engineer, Andrew Sutherland ; Purser, W. B. Jones; carpenter, John Morrison, chief steward C. Allen; stewardess. Miss Aitken. Crew so far as known —E. Johnston, T. Dixon, C. Stewart, F. Deraz, J. Gibb, R. McDavitt, D. Corbett, Frank Rhol, S. Armstead, Wm. Brien, Wm. Smith, W. Collins, Charles Silver, J Weston, J. Burnett, G. Horan, P. Nicholson, H. Poison, W. Adams, T. Armstead, James Maher, James Warren, Eobt. Burnwood, T. Haynes, W. Davidson, A. Mmkalioey and four names unknown. Several other people booked at Port Chalmers, among them Deris English, William English, and Alex. McKenzie, all shearers, are known to have been board.
SURVIVORS OF THE WRECK. The following persona base been saved : Crew. —Robert Lindsay, chief officer ; Peter Maloney, second officer ; .lames Burnett, A. 8.; Edward Johnson, A. 8.; Charles Stewart, A. 8.; Torquel Nicolson, A.E ; Franz Dan-, A. 8.; John Weston, A. 8.; Thom is Dixon, A. 8.; Franz Rahel, fireman ; John Maher, fireman ; Antonio Miscalef, chief cook. P/.SS EXGEES. — WiIIiam Hill, steerage ; John Chatterton, steerage; George Lawrence, steerage; Henry Deely, steerage ; George Robins, steerage ; Thomas Davis, steerage ; Jotm William”, steerage ; Gustave Tellien, steerage. THE FIRST MATE’S STATEMENT. I turned in at 4 a.m., leaving the captain and second mate on deck. At 5.25 a.m, the vessel struck. When I left the deck she was steering west. From 2 to 4 we had been steering W.S.W. The weather was hazy over the land, hat I noticed nothing unusual. When I called the watch the captain came on deck, and altered the course as stated. I was asleep when the ship struck. I rushed on deck, and the engines were reversed, but this was no use. She struck aft, and unshipped the rudder and broke her propeller. The engines were of no use, and stopped. All hands were called to clear away boats. Tea minutes after the engines stopped the ship was full of water. At 5 30, the first boat was lowered, with tho second mate in charge, and four sailors and one passenger, to try for landing. The passenger, Lawrence, a young man, when the boat was half way, swam ashore, having previously promised, if successful, to remain and help in landing the passengers. He did so, after finding hia way to Mr. Brunton's station and causing to be sent the first telegraph message coming to hand. The messenger was Charles Gibbs, who rode thirty-five miles to Wyndham by 12.30. Another attempt at landing the passengers was made, but of five two were drowned in the surf. Another boat was then lowered, and the carpenter sent with it to see if landing was practicable on the reef. His report was unsatisfactory, and the second mate was sent, and tried landing on the reef, but without success. One man was lost. The captain next sent the first mate in charge of a boat containing three passengers and a boy. All landed safe except the boy, who wss drowned. The boat was capsized, end opened at both ends, and thus became useless. Repairs were made by men on shore, but the sea was too heavy to launch her. The vessel all this time was thumping heavily. Some of the passengers had taken to the rigging, and others were clustered on the forecastle, but a head sea was breaking over them heavily. At 2.30 there was a heavy sea breaking, and which washed several passengers (women and children) over, and after that they dropped off one by one. THE LAST OF THE FATED VESSEL. A survivor—the Maltese cook who swam bravely for hia own life and tried to rescue a girl—states that the captain got all the ladies out of the smoke-house on to tho forecastle head, all being there till 2.30, when a sea washed them off. The captain displayed great coolness to the last, hia exclamation, when all hope was lost, being, “ Oh, God, what shall we do now 1” The steamer soon settled down. After night came on cries were heard on shore, and then cheers, as a light, supposed to be that of the steamer Kakanui, was seen. Then a great crash was heard—then only the rolling of the surf. At daylight the steamer was seen heeled over, and she gradually sank until only portions of the spars were visible. The Hawea, Kakanui, and Prince Rupert were seen in the offing, and the latter picked up the second mate’s boat, but it is unknown here whether she picked up more survivors. The total rescue, bo far as is known here, is 20 men. A portion of the mail-bags were picked up at sea, and one child’s body, by the Kakanui. Those on shore declare it was heartrending to contemplate their inability to help two brave swimmers who battled for life floating with a plank. One splendid swimmer left the plank at the edge of the surf, and came in with a roller, but, struggling within a few yards of land, was taken out by the back drift. The reef extends seven miles out, and the men landed almost naked, hut clothes were sent out to them at the order of Mr. J. S. Shinies, whose efforts to supply their wants, and the kindness of Mr. Brunton, was unbounded. Singularly the body that came ashore had a life-buoy attached and life was scarcely extinct, but all means to restore it were unavailing. THE TARARUA’S MAILS. We received from Mr. Gray, Secretary Post Office Department, the following important information concerning the mails,: —The Hawea picked up seven bags of mail from the wreck of the Tararna 1 bag, Auckland to Sydney ; 1 bag, Wellington to Sydney, with enclosed mail from Nelson ; 1 bag, Wellington to Brisbane ; 1 bag, Wellington to Hobart; 1 bag, Christchurch to Melbourne, with enclosed mails from Hokitika and Greymonth ; 1 bag, Dunedin to Sydney, with enclosed mail for New Caledonia ; 1 bag, Dunedin for Hobart, with enclosed mail from Christchurch. Of the total number of letters, about 1000 can be delivered. The newspapers—about three hundred—are reduced to pulp. The only London-Brindisi correspondence sent by the Tararna, and which was enclosed in the Invercargill mail, was that posted at Dunedin and Polt Chalmers between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the day the steamer sailed from the latter port. The bulk of the correspondence for London and foreign places from all post offices had previously been forwarded by express to Invercargill, where the only mails for despatch by Brindisi and Orient steamers aie made up. FURTHER DETAILS. Capt. Angus Cameron, Marine Superintendent of the Union Company, who landed at the boat harbor off Fortrose on Saturday morning, and made a thorough search of the beach (as far as was practicable) frem end to end, states that at noon on Saturday he observed the points of the Tararua’s bowsprit and mizen-mast sticking out above the surf. The wreck appeared to be about a mile off shore, and on the north side of Waipapa point. Proceeding along the beach Captain Cameron collected the survivors of the passengers (and crew, with the exception of Mr. Lindsay, the chief officer, who was, it was presumed, searching for bodies along the beach) and with the assistance of Mr. Brunton, whose station he arrived at, procured a wagon and sent the poor fellows as far as possible towards the boat harbor. While returning to the scene of tho wreck Captain Cameron states that he observed the bodies of a young female (apparently some twenty years of age) and a young man of from twenty-five to 30 years old. The bodies were perfectly nude, and two ladies, the wives of settleis, kindly proceeded to envelope the girl’s body in a sheet. Capt. Cameron adds that he gave orders for coffins for the unfortunate young people, and left Mr. Peter Maloney, the second officer, with Mr. A. Lindsay, the chief officer, to look after any other bodies which might wash ashore, and having done all that he possibly could, Capt. Cameron retraced his steps along the beach, a task of great difficulty getting a lift for part of the road from Mr. Rich. THE .SECOND MATE’S STORY. Peter Maloney said : I am second officer of the Tararna. It was my watch from 12 on Thursday to 4 a.m. on Friday. The night was very dark and there was a thick haze over the land. The ship struck about 5 a.m. on, Friday. The captain had come over the bridge and all the officers were on the deck. Captain Garrard thought he was far enough to the south to clear Waipapa Point and gave instructions to alter the course to the west, so as to head tor the Blnff. A few minutes before the ship struck the captain went aft to verify his position by the standard compass. While he was doing so, I became aware that the ship was in a dangerous position and the course was immediately altered, but too late, for the vessel went right on to the reef to southward of Slope Point. I was sent away with a boat’s crew and one of the passengers to find a landing, if possible, and the second boat was despatched in charge of the chief officer with the same instructions. James Mater, one of my boat’s crew, swam to the reef to find if it were possible to land the people there. Meantime the chief officer’s boat had capsized. Five persona were seen to land from her. I took my boat back to the vessel, and then returned to the reef with three passengers in addition to my boat’s craw. These passengers, who were supposed to be able to swim, jumped overboard, and were not seen again. James Mater swam back to the boat and was taken on board greatly exhausted. He was bruised in the ribs, arms, and head. Early in the day the other two boats were washed out of the davits and smashed. After getting Mater on board, _ I tried to get alongside the steamer again, but found it impossible, as the sea_ was making a clean breach over her excepting on
the forepeak. The ladies and children were placed in the smoking-room on the bridge for safety. As I could do no more, I stood out to sea to see if I could fall in with any pas.-ing vessel and obtain help. At 230 p.m., on Saturday, Captain W. Hanning, of the ketch Prince Rupert, took us alongside, and we remained by her until the Hawea came np.
NARRATIVE OF SURVIVORS. George Robin, a steerage passenger from Otavo to Melbourne, gives the fallowing details’ :—I left the ship by the last trip of the first officer’s boat. Just as we reached the beach, the boat capsized, and I made for the shore. As soon as we lauded, we lit a fire on the beach, and kept it burning all night. Just at dark we saw_ the ship. _ The passengers were then dining to the rigging. I picked the ,cook up out of the water as he swam ashore. Our boat was capsized right on top of us, and when we extricated ourselves I swam ashore. The sea was very rough. Gustave Tellein, another steerage passenger, corroborates what Robin has stated. When the ship first struck it seemed but a slight shock, but after that she bumped heavily. The second time she struck a hole was made in her, and she continued strikinguutil she finally broke up. Captain Garrard was perfectly cool, and gave his orders very collectedly. I think he did all in his power to save us and the ship. Robins picked up the body of a saloon passenger. He was entirely nude, and about thirty years of age. He had reddish brown whiskers and moustache. Wm. Hill said : I was a through passenger for England in the steerage with my wife and child. At the time the ship struck I went on deck to look for my wife and child. I found her washing about the deck (the females were berthed in another compartment of the steerage)—with the child in her arms. All was confurion ; the women and children were screaming ; the vessel was bumping heavily on the rooks, and a heavy sea was washing over her. I told my wife to hold on to a stauohion, and went to see if there was any means of getting a boat, I found all was confusion. At last the starboard boat was got out, and as she was being lowered from the davits a sea struck her, and she was stove in. The men got back to the ship, and after some delay a boat was got out on the port side, and then Captain Garrard succeeded in restoring order. He put the second mate in charge of the boat," and it went round to the starboard (the lee side), and the men who could swim were also placed in her in order that they might carry intelligence to land. The boat succeeded in getting near the shore, and a man them swam ashore and the boat returned to the ship, and the passengers were anxious to get in. Aline was hove from the yard arm and six passengers were lowered into her. They were cautioned not to go unless they could swim. I saw them afterwards struggling in the water. I allude to the passengers. I only saw three of them gain the shore. It was getting light at the time. When the boat returned the captain said he would not risk any more going, and the females were conveyed to the smoking-room 1 in front of the bridge. I think it was the captain who said to me, “Get your wife and child into the smoking-room, she will be all right there.” The sea was breaking over the vessel aft. I said to my wife it there was a chance of getting away to render assistance I would go, as I should not be allowed to remain with her. I took a survey of the shore, and, seeing a smooth part near the reef, I went to the captain and called his attention to it, asking if there was not a possibility of landing on that pu-t of the reef. He sent away a second boat, in charge of the carpenter. I did not see her leave the ship, but when she came hack the carpenter said he thought it was possible to land on thereof. Akedge anchor was then put.in the boat. I asked the captain to allow me to go to the reef and examine it, and said I would hold up my arms as a signal if it were safe to land on. One of the firemen went with me and the boat’s crew. On nearing the reef, in the second mate’s boat, we found it was not so smooth as it appeared ; it was very rough and there was a heavy sea rolling over it. The fireman swam from the boat to the surf. It was a very dangerous place. I returned to the ship and then went back to the reef for the fireman, who swam out to the boat and was taken on board. He was greatly exhausted. We could not get alongside the ship again on account of the high seas. The chief officer and a boat’s crew tried to land on the reef but could not, and they made for the beach.
[At this time the Hawea made the scene of the disaster, and Mr. Hills’s attention being attracted to the wreckage no further statement could be procured from him.] John Ohatterton said : I was a steerage passenger. I went off in the mate’s boat at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 29th, with three passengers, five of the crew, and a lad (a brass cleaner). On nearing the beach a wave capsized the boat, and all hands had to swim for it. After a desperate struggle all succeeded in reaching the beach but the boy, who was drowned. When the ship struck I was in my bunk, and hearing the noise, said, “What’s that? We are on a rock.” There was an immediate rush on deck, and soon all the passengers were there. All was quiet and orderly. XMrectly she struck the sea broke over her stern and carried away the rudder, the wheel, and the after gear. We were, I should say, a mile and a-half from the shore, and drifted to within half a mile. She struck at a quarter past five, and a quarter before 6 a.m. the first boat was sent away. The first boat, which tried to leave was carried away out of the davits. Soon after I got off the women were carried to the forecastle, and at 2 p.m the men began to take to the rsgging. Lights were burnt through the night, andabout2.o3on Saturday morning Ihearda loudshout “ Bring a boat.” We could see the outline of a vessel before this, but nothing after. A large quantity of cargo, &c , was washed ashore. One of the cabin passengers (a man) came ashore about 4 p.m. on Saturday, but he died just as they hauled him on the beach, A young girl came ashore on the reef about 11 a.m. on Saturday. She was much disfigured about the face. We on shore could do nothing to assist them. I should think there were about sixty in the fore cabin and about twenty females in the second ladies’ cabin. X shipped at Auckland for Melbourne, and have lost everything except what I stood up in. After the boat was upset I was turned over several times. I could not swim all the time but had to wait for a smooth sea and then strike out. After I got on shore I saw several persons clinging to pieces of wreck but as they got near the beach they fell off and I saw no more of them.
Gr, Ij. Lawrence said : When the ship struck I went aft oa the bridge, where I found the captain and both officers. The captain was giving orders to lower the boats. The seamen and firemen were steady and obeying orders, but the passengers were confused. The star* board boat was stove in. The port boat was then lowered, and the second mate sent away in charge. The captain asked me if X could swim, and if I would go in the boat and see if I could get to land. There were four seamen iu the boat. When we were about 500 yards from the ship, and about the same distance from the shore, the mate told me to stand by, and be would give me a chance to go ashore. In a of the waves I jumped, and had to tumble until 1 was in the surf, which was so heavy that I rolled over many times. I kept my senses, and at last got in on the top of a breaker. X was cold, so ran about the beach to circulate the blood, and when warmed a little, I made for a house about half a mile off, and asked them to send a man to telegraph that the Tararua had struck, and required assistance. They sent a man on horseback at once. X returned to the beach as quickly as possible, just in time to help ashore three out of the six men who came in the second mate s boat on her second trip, I tried to go on the reef, so as to get a line ashore there to land the passengers, but it was impossible to do anything. I was washed off, and went back to the beach. The chief mate then tried to come in near enough to oast a line ashore, but his boat swamped. However, eight of the nine that were iu her lauded safely. The ninth was’a little lamp trimmer, who had joined the ship at Port Chalmers, and he was drowned. After the second mate stood out to sea we noticed the people being washed off the forecastle head, and the party went down to the beach in twos and threes to see if any assistance could be given to any who were washed ashore. One passenger (Bobins) succeeded in getting bold of the cook, and was put on a sledge and then taken up to the station. We built a 6re on the beach and left two men iu charge of it while we went up to the station for food and dry clothe?. We were there about an hour, when we heard cheering from the steamer. This we supposed to be an expression of delight at the poor creatures seeing a steamer standing towards the Bluff. At this time the forecastle head was clear, the losople having all taken to the rigging, where they were burning matches. We saw the burning of matches occasionally, till about 11 o’clock. About 25 minutes to 3 we heard shrieks from the vessel. We ran on to the beach and heard a voice, supposed to be the
ca],t L!n’. c j Binging out for a boat. That was [ what we made out out through the noise of the turf. That was the last we heard of her. At daybreak we • saw she was gone. The Kakanui could not have got near the Tararaa in any case, on account of the surf. We worked about the beach to look for traces of bodies and at two different times we picked up a young womau about 17 and a young man about 25. The girl’s body was left on shore in charge of the mate. A young fellow was seen fighting his way through the surf with a life buoy, but he lost the life buoy and died just as we pulled him ashore. THE CHIEF COOK’S STORY. Antonio Micallef said ; I am chief cook of the Tararaa. At 5 a.m. on Friday Mr. Ellen, the chief steward, came to me and gave me his orders for the day. I dressed and went on deck and then heard the ship bump and strike. About ten minutes later she struck again and the captain told the second officer to call all hands, which was done, and he afterwards gave orders to stop the engines. Mr. Munro, the chief engineer, asked me to take care jof his little boy. I kept the ohil i for about half an hour and then Mr. Munro took it from me. I then went to the saloon and assisted the steward to get out the passengers. There were about five ladies and some children ; four of the children belonged to Dr. and Mrs. Campbell, who joined at Christchurch, The passengers were then removed from the poop to the smoking cabin, as the vessel was breaking up aft. Before this the captain had sent the second officer away in the boat to seek a lauding place, and had fired two guns and three rockets. The chief officer’s boat was then got out and left in charge of Mr. Lindsay and hia boat’s crew and two passengers. When the tide went down Captain Garrard asked me to go below and cook some meat. I did so, and served out meat, potatoes, and coffee. Mr. Ellen afterward directed me to go the smoking-room and to the bridge to get some meat, bread, &c., ready for landing to supply to the people, and I did so, and as my galley was filling with water I went on deck. About 2 p.m. on Friday the ship was fast breaking up and had driven further in shore. The captain then gave orders to carry the females to the forecastle-head. He carried them himself from the smoking-room, and we took them forward. We afterwards got on the forecastle, and the captain said : “ I have done all I can; I have no boats available ; the tide will be out in another half-hour, and I will try to do the best I can,” Immediately he ended speaking a heavy sea came and carried away the dingy and cutter. We stood on the forecastle until another heavy sea struck her, and as there was a rush of passengers to the side the rail carried away, and I and about sixteen others fell overboard. The captain exclaimed, “ Oh, God, what are we to do now ?" I picked up a young lady, a Hobart native, and managed to keep her afloat for about five minutes, calling out for a rope, when a big sea struck us, and she was washed from my hold. I saw her no more. I then made for the shore, and encountered a lot of wreckage floating about. I got clear of it with great difficulty, and before I reached the beach I was nearly exhausted, and called out to one of the passengers ashore to help me. He pulled me out, put me on a sleigh, and laid me before a fire, where I was supplied with a drop of brandy. After resting at the fire for half-an-hour I was laken to the farm, supplied with dry clothes, and put to bed. This was about 5 p.m. on Friday. I saw a lot of people in the rigging, viz., Mr. Ellen, chief steward, , James Warren, second steward, Win- Smith, pantryman, the second fore-cabm steward, J. Davidson and the boy Tommy. Jas. Collins, the fore-cabin steward, was drowned. I saw some firemen on the rigging. The sailors lett on board were George Home and Hugh Poison. The captain made for the rigging. The engineers were on the forecastle head. The third engineer, Mr. Alex. Sutherland, had his leg broken in the morning by a sea. lam anxious to thank the kind people (who were so good to us all) for their generous treatment. HARROWING SCENE AT THE WRECK. The Fortrose correspondent of the Times telegraphed that a terrible sea arose with the flood tide after the Tararua struck on the reefs, breaking over her and sweeping her from stern to bows. The vessel filled immediately after striking. After the boats left, the passengers remaining on board took to the rigging and bows, but numbers were washed off by each succeeding sea, while others who attempted to reach the shore by the aid of pieces of wood aud life-buoys, were drowned in the surf. It was quite impossible to assist the poor creatures from the shore, although within sight. The vessel aud cargo broke up, and the beach was strewn with wreckage of all descriptions. After the boats were found useless tbe vessel parted amidships towards the afternoon, and at 2.35 next morning she became a total wreck, the masts breaking up and the hull went over broadside, drowning all who remained on board. ADDITIONAL DETAILS CONCERNING PASSENGERS. Dunedin, April 3U. The Star publishes the following particulars re the Tararua’s passengers : —lt is estimated that about twenty-five people took oat passages after joining the steamer at Port Chalmers. Of these we have ascertained the names of four. John Barry is said to have been at one time driver of Iresson’a Green Island coach, Dennia English, William English, and Alexander McKenzie were shearers. The last-mentioned is well known in the Otepopo District, where his father kept an hotel for many years. The Raes are brothers, who came down from the country in the early part of the week to proceed to the Mount Brown diggings. We learn that the bank of New Zealand had shipped old silver (called in by Government), to the value of £IOOO, by the vessel. It was insured in Melbourne, but with what office is not known here. Mr. George Martin, who joined the vessel at Port Cahlmers, came from near Kumara, where his relatives reside ; Mr. Ramsay is the eldest son of the Rev. D. O. Gilvray Ramsay, minister of Closeburn, Dumfriesshire, and nephew of Mr. K. Ramsay, of this oity. He had come to the colonies for the benefit of his health, and was returning Home. We believe that Captain Garrard was making his last trip before being married to a lady in Melbourne. He was only twenty-nine years of age, and is understood to be the youngest captain in the Intercolonial service. Mr. Bambridge was a cousin of Mr. McKay, of McKay, Bracken and Co. and was returning to the old country in ill health. The Rev. Mr. Waterhouse was well known as having been for many years in charge of the Wesleyan Mission at Fiji, and Mr. Waterhouse is his son. The Rev. Mr. Richardson was president of the Wesleyan Conference, and the Rev. J. Armitage was one of the secretaries of the conference and editor of the Wesleyan. The body brought by the Hawea has been recognised as that of a Swede named Anderson, from the Garrick ranges in Otago. He was aged about 50, he had been stopping for some days at Boazsr’s boarding house at Port Chalmers. FURTHER PARTICULARS. Of the passengers who booked from Wellington by the ill-fated vessel some appear to be unknown in the city, Mr. Chancey Burgett, whose name is in the list, was an old West Coast resident. He lived at Reefton, and was manager of the Keep-it-Dark Crushing Company. He had saved a good deal of money, and owned a considerable amount of scrip in the United Alpine Company at the Lyell. He came to ’Wellington a short time ago, and took up his quarters at the New Zealander Hotel, he and the landlord, Mr. T. Smith, being old friends. He had made up his mind to give up speculating in gold-mining shares, and was on his way to Tasmania, where he intended investing a large portion of his capital in tin-mines. Mr. Burgett was a man of about 35 or 40 years of age, aud, we understand, unmarried. His brother keeps an hotel at the junction of the Maori Gully and Ahaura roads on the West Coast. Mr. and Sirs. B. W. M. Downes were residents of this city, aud occupied a house on Wellington-terrace. They were married about eight or nine months ago. Mr. Downes lived in Wellington about three or four years ago. He was a law clerk, and latterly in the employ of Messrs. Brandon and Son. His name has been prominently brought before the public through several charges of stamp frauds being preferred against him. He was acquitted on all of them. Previous to the trial he broke up his household, with the intention of leaving the colony at the earliest opportunity. It is thought that he had made up his mind to seek employment in Australia, where but little would be known of him.
Mr. S. T. B. Marsh, who booked in Wellington, is said to have been an Opotiki resident. He was on his way to England. Mrs. Brennan, who, with her family of three children, booked at Tanranga, is said to be the wife of a storekeeper
at that town. Of Mr. Penman and the steer- ! age passengers who j fined the steamer in Wellington we have been unable to obtain | any information, and it is probable that they had come from other districts. The Rev. J. Waterhouse was a brother of the Hon. G. M. Waterhouse, and he was well known throughout the colony. He was intimately connected with the establishment of a Wesleyan Mission at Fiji, and some years ago while the Rev. Mr. Morley was stationed in Wellington, he made a torn- of New Zealand and delivered a number of interesting lectures on Fiji. While in this oity he lectured in the Manners-street Wesleyan Church (since destroyed by fire), the Hon.G. M. Waterhouse occupying the chair. His son had been staying with the last named gentleman, and on this occasion he had come over from Sandhurst, his place of abode (not Sydney, as previously stated), to take him home.
The Rev. John B. Richardson was a man of about forty years of age. He was stationed at the Hutt for three years, and left there for tbe Wairarapa five years ago last month. From thence he was moved to St. Albans, Christchurch, where he had entered upon the third year of his term. He had been a minister of the Church for about sixteen years, the whole of that time being spent in the colony, he having come out with the Rev. Mr. Lee and several others. He leaves a young widow and three or four children.
The Rev. Mr. Armitage was formerly a journalist. He became a minister of the Wesleyan Church about seven years a»o. Leeston, Canterbury, was his last station. It was no doubt on account of his journalistic experience that he was entrusted with the editorship of the New Zealand Wesleyan. His age was between 45 and 50. He leaves eight children, several of whom are grown up. Of the two lay representatives who were proceeding to the Conference about to be held at Adelaide, Mr. Mitchell was a retired state school teacher. He leaves a married daughter. Mr. Connell leaves a grownup sou, who has recently distinguished himself by taking a B.A. degree. In addition to the names previously mentioned, several other clerygmen providentially escaped the fate of their brethren. Among these was the Rev. Alexander Reid, Mr. Kirk’s predecessor in Wellington, who was to have attended the Conference. Being, however, appointed to attend the meeting of the Oecumenical Council at Home, he changed his mind, and left by the last Sau Francisco mail steamer. Mr. Moxham, of this city, who is a lay representative, was on the point of leaving by the Tararua, but changed his mind aud waited for the Te Anau. (UNITED PEERS ASSOCIATION.) Christchurch, May 2. Allusion was made to the Tararua diiaster in the service* of tbe principal churches yesterday. The flags in the town were hoisted half-mast high. Dr. Campbell, one of the Christchurch passengers, was on a pleasure trip to England. The whole of his family perished with him. The Rev. J. Armitage leaves a widow and eight children, and the Rev. J. Waterhouse a widow and seven children. Mr. E. Connell leaves one son, aud Mr. E. Mitchell leaves a widow aud daughter. Invercargill, May 2. The male body found on the beach has been identified by Thompson as Bailey, the waiter in the Cri.erion Hotel, Dunedin. It is the Otara Reef, and not the Waipapa, where the Tararua wreck occurred. The reef runs out six or seven miles from land, and it was in the eastern angle of it that the steamer was stranded. Thus she was miles out of her course, and also out of view of Dog Island, the light of which should have been visible. Law.-ence, a passenger, praised captain aud a part of the crew, who were most obedient. The final crash came at 3.30 a.m. on April 30. The people at Fortrose say that had a telegraph station been there the whole disaster would have been prevented. At twentyfive minutes to 10 o’clock on Friday night the captain’s voice was supposed to be heard shouting, “ A boat ! a boat, bays !” The Rev. Mr. Waterhouse was very cool and calm. He told the first mate to be cautious, and go steadily. The second mate tried to land six passengers, three of whom were drowned. The result made him, he says resolve to pull out to sea. He had previously landed one man on the reef, and, seeing him in peril, went and took him off before going seaward. He says his idea was to be ready, if the sea got calm, to help to land the passengers, as there was then no other boat available. The body of a man was picked up by the second mate. There were eighteen sovereigns and a ticket for a passage te England with him, and entangled with him were the two mail bags. They were ail placed on the s.s. Kakanui, and they were transferred to the s.s. Hawea. The body of a girl, supposed to be Miss Kelly, from Auckland, brown hair, dark, small features, the only clothing being a remnant of underclothing, was washed ashore. It had on a pair of blue and purple worsted stockings and leather garters lined with red. Dunedin, May 3. The second mate explains that the reason why he stood to sea was to be ready to help to land the passengers if the sea got calm, as there was no other boat available Passengers saved all agree that there were a number of people on the Tararua who had not booked at the office but intended to pay on board. It is, therefore, impossible to get at the exact number of those on board, but taking lowest calculation, there must have been 103 drowned, while some make the number at 125. It is thought there were close on 70 in the steerage. It has transpired that amongst those who went on board the Tararua, but did not book, were Mrs. H. Kosenfeldt and four children. She was going to rejoin her husband in Melbourne. May 4. At a meeting held this morning to devise means for the relief of the sufferers by the wreck of the Tararua, Mr. Mills, managing director of the Union Company, explained that while he agreed that a light should be placed on Waipapa, the accident had not oocuned through the captain’s desire to make a quick passage, There wasnonecessity foraquick passage. The distance between the Bluff and Port Chalmers was so short that steamers could always accomplish it without difficulty. The reason for keeping so close inshore was that some distance to seaward of these reefs was a rookkuownasToby Rock, aud if the vessels were kept too far away from shore they were liable to run into danger from the other side. At the inquest a verdict was returned of “Found drowned,” and a rider added, “That in view of the number of wreck* at this point of the coast the Government ought, for the safety of lives, to put a light on Waipapa Point.” Wyndham, May 2. Every assistance is being rendered by a numerous body of police, and every attention paid to deceased persons by having good aud decent coffins made on Mr. Erunton’s station. It was a very wild night last night, and this morning, on commencing onr return journey, we met a mounted messenger on his way to procure police assistance at Waikawa, where a considerable quantity of heavy wreckage has been cast ashore, together with one body, that of a boy about twelve years of age. Several bodies yesterday seeu, one being that of a large powerful-looking man with red whiskers, having on only his drawers, which dangled from his feet. We are now meeting several parties on their way to tbe scene, all appearing deeply interested for one or other of those lost. Mr. Moffiatt and party of ten from Invercargill, including one engaged as knowing the coast intimately, are also on their way. There is no accommodation at the spot ; as many as twenty of us enquirers shared the hayloft last night with the constabulary, being the only building there. We overtook Messrs. Buttle and Cameron, who were also returning this morning, and after giving the Waikawa news they elected to turn back. For several miles we made diligent search for the body of J. O. Eva, but no trace of it could be found, or even a vestige of anything belonging to him. A very touching incident occurred, and was related to us on Sunday by one of the survivors. One of the A.B. seamen, who was on his way to Melbourne with his wife aud child, having been directed by the captain to get out the boats, he naturally clung to them, but finding he could not refuse his duty, went and procured clothing for them, and lashed his wife with her child to the mast after placing with her all his money, £l9, and his watch. The captain had to take the child to enable the man to enter the boat. On our arriving on the beach on Sunday afternoon we found him with the identical shawl in his hands, much tattered, but all the poor man had left of those so dear to him. Many similar scenes to the above will no doubt be chronicled, as all appear to look with longing and tearful eyes at every vestige thrown up from the deep. On our road this morning a trooper was conveying the news to Wyndham of another body having been found, that of a man w;th black whiskers, and middle height. This occurred about a quarter of an hour after we left the scene. The roads are bad, indeed very
little being good. Tbe route ii across a wild and rugged country, and in many places miles almost of impassable ruts. The distance from E iendale, via Wyndham, is about forty- two miles, and conveyances ran daily. May 4.
No belies came to shore yesterday, but to-day five have been found. Two were got by the police on first going out in the morning, having been washed up by the tide during the night. The other three were got from Bte 10 o’clock in the forenoon, when the tide had reached the flood, and was just on the point of turning. The whole five were found within two miles of the wreok. One, that of the stewardess, has been found almost directly opposite where the vessel lies. Four of the bodies have been identified b yond question, and the fifth is believed to be known from his drees. The two thrown up during the night were passengers, one named John Dodson, and the other, Charles Holt. Dodson is about sft. 7in. in height, of about thirty-four years of age, dark hair, whiskers aud moustache, shaved on the chin, and wore a striped grey tweed shirt. He haid £2l odd upon him aud a bank draft on the Union Bauk of Australasia, Melbourne, for £4O. It was dated D medio, Aprfl 27. It was by this he was known. Charles Holt was known by a passage ticket found in his pocket, from Wellington to London. It was dated April 22. He had sixpence in cash in his pocket and a silver watch. He looks to have been 22 years old, is clean shaved, dark hair, stout build. He had on a peculiar pair of boots laced up with elastic sides. Of the other three, two are known to be the stewardess Miss Aitken, and the second cabin steward, Wm. D avidson. They were recognised by the chief mate, Mr. Lindsay. There was nothing in the way of documents upon them, by which they could be identified. She was left ou the beach by the sea and found about 10 o’clock. The second cabin steward, Davidson, was got out from the sea with a good deal of difficulty. He had £3 odd on him, and some jewellery, such as three gold rings, a scarf pin, and locket, kc. The fifth body is that of an old man about 50, but hia features are too far wasted away to allow of his identification. He was sft. Bio. in height, and shaved on the chin, with darkish whiskers, but the hair is entirely off his head. He has dark woollen trousers on and a tweed coat, and his sleeves were rolled up. It is thought he was a fireman who had been at work. He had only 2s. fid. on hint', and no documents. Up till 11 o’clock Tuesday no more bodies had been found a Waikawa, Mr. Buckley having had a letter from one of the constables sent there to that effect.
The bodies therefore so far recovered on shore number eleven—namely, Bailey, Criterion waiter ; Joseph Wallace, from Lyttelton ; Charles Holt, from Wellington; John Dobson, George Gorton, man unknown, female unknown, and boy unknown, all passengers; and William Davidson, second cabin steward ; Miss Aitken, stewardess ; and supposed fireman belonging to the ship. Besides these, of course, there are the man and baby picked up at sea, and taken to town by the Hawea. Dr. Campbell's brother went on to Waikawa to see if the body found there was his nephew, but discovered that he was not. I sent you word that he recognised the female body at the station as the doctor’s servant, but this is not correct. He did not know the servant the family took with them for the passage Home, and was therefore unable to say whether the body was hers or not. The boy found at Waikawa is described as eight or nine years of age, having dark brown hair. He had only a check shirt on. The police [have arranged for the burial of the bodies of this boy and Gorton at Waikawa. The other things found from the wreck include a box marked “ William White, per ship Otaki,”with“ per Tararua for London via Melbourne” also marked on it ; a dressing gown, having the name of E. Buoke marked on the neck, and part of a man’s nightshirt with the name of W. B. Jones—this was the name of ship’s purser. I should have mentioned that the bodies got to day are very much affected by the action of the water. The features ore repulsive to look upon, the flesh having sunk in, the eyes being out and the whole head presenting almost the ghastly appearance of a skull. The faces are not in any way disfigured; the bodies are all fully clothed. The four bodies upon which the inquest was held were buried yesterday at the Eortrose cemetery. A service was read over them at Otarau by the R;v. Mr. Fairclough of Invercargill, and afterwards at the cemetery ; Mr. Attwood,senr., a local resident, real the burial service. The ceremony at the graves was witnessed by a few of the settlers in the locality. PROMPT ASSISTANCE. Invercargill May 1. A largely-attended meeting of citizens was held this (Sunday) afternoon in the readingroom of the Athenaeum to consider what might be done by the people of Invercargill in the matter of the Tararua disaster. His Worship the Mayor presided. Mr. Wade, solicitor, moved the appointment of a committee to proceed to the scene of the wreck with authority to take such steps as they might deem necessary or desirable to relieve the sufferers. The committee of sixteen volunteers was appointed accordingly. Another committee of six was formed on the motion of Mr. King-land, with the Mayor as its head, for the purpose of raising such funds as might be required, and in order that there might be some properly contituted authority for the members of first committee and others to communicate with as occasion required. The tone of the meeting was one of great sympathy with those who have suffered by the calamity, and universal regret was expressed that the erroneous nature of the first telegram from Wyndham, which announced that the passengers [had all been landed, had lulled public apprehensions, and prevented prompt action. Dunedin, May 8. The Times’ correspondent telegraphs from Wyndham on Saturday, that 13 more bodies have been recovered from the wreck of the Tararua, four of whomhave been identified, namely—John Sc >one, Alexander Rae, William White, and Robert Shaw Russell Marsh. One is the body of a man about 50 years of age, sft. in height, stout build, with light beard mixed with grey, wearing heavy boots with heel and toe-plates, dark coat, and light-colored trousers. _He carried a miner’s chamois bag. Ten bodies have been interred in the Fortross cemetery. As numbers of bodies are now coming ashore, it has been determined to bury them within an enclosure of an acre of laud near the scene of the disaster. Invercargill, May 10. Eleven more bodies were washed ashore on Sunday night, south of Otara Point, including those of Mr. Thomas Crawford, Captain Garrard, Dr. Campbell’s son ; also the body of a lady passenger, unidentified, and a little girl. The others were those of males, including a Chinaman, The right arm and hand of a lady, broken near the shoulder, came ashore. Mr. Stewart, of Messrs. Cargill, Gibbs, and Co., returned from Otara to-day, reports that up to 2 p.m. on Monday 53 bodies in all had been recovered, 51 of these having been found on the Otara beach, and two at Waikawa, these being the two recovered at sea and taken to Dunedin. Captain Garrard was buried at Otara ou Mouday forenoon. May 11. The Chief Postmaster to-day received a telegram from Invercargill stating that the mail bag from Dunedin to Melbourne had been recovered from the wreck of the Tararua, containing ICO letters and 21 registered letters. 19 of the letters can be delivered, others too much damaged. Auckland, May 11. A public meeting was held in the Pitt-street V* T esleyan Church re fund for the families of the late Revs. - Richardson and Armitage, and the sum of £lO5 was subscribed. A committee was appointed to collect subscriptions. The Rev. Thos. Buddie presided. The Rovs. Dewsbury and Olliver and other gentlemen spoke. A resolution of sympathy with bereaved families was carried. SALE OF THE WRECK. Dunedin, May 9. . The Tararua, as she now lies on the Otara reef, was sold to-day. There was little or no bidding. The wreck, together with ail gear and fittings belonging to the vessel, subject to the right of the owner or owners of cargo to labor “for the recovery of the cargo or any portion thereof, was knocked down to Mr. James Mills, of the Union Company, for £2O. One boat lying on the beach near the wreck, was sold to Nimmo and Blair for £7 10s., and another at Port Chalmers to Mr. Mills for £ls. It was stated at the sale of the Tararua that the Government intended to send down divers to recover the old silver in the hold of the vessel. The steamer Tararua was built at Dundee in 1864, for the old Panama Company, and subsequently when that company dissolved was purchased by Messrs. MoMeckan, Blackwood and Co., of Melbourne. She was then, with ether steamers belonging to the same
firm, purchased by the Union Steamship Company, and was in those days a fast boat* having made some very good passages between the Bluff and Melbourne. At this time she was barque-rigged, and there are now to be seen several photographs of her from a painting by the Hte Captain Robertson, as she was before being altered. Just before theU.S.L Company purchased her she was considerably altered, new boilers were fitted and compound engines of 150 h.p. were placed in her and her rig changed to that of a topsail schooner. The spar-deck was carried from the poop to the bridge, which increased her tonnage considerably. Her saloon accommodation was also enlarged. The Tararua was noted as being a wet boat, and was particularly “ lively ”iu a sea way. She was an iron boat of 823 tons gross tonnage. Her dimecsio is were, length 222 feet, breadth 2S feet, depth lu feet. She was frequently considered an unlucky boat by her various commanders, and many of them had a superstitious belief that she would sooner or later come to an untimely end.
A MESSAGE FROM WYNDHAM. IV YNDK-VST, May 5. The Rev. P. W. Fairclough sends the subjoined message :
The story of Frank Denz, seaman, runs as follows ;—I was married in Auckland two years and a-half ago. We had one child fifteen months old. I persuaded my wife to visit Melbourne. The company let me take her at half price. When she came on board Captain Garrard came forward and said to her, “ I’ll give you the other halt of the fare, and you can buy a new dress with it.” Poor girl, she never got it. When we got to Port Chalmers my wife aud Mary Kelly went to Dunedin. I warned them carefully to come by the 3 o’clock train. I wish to the Lord I had told them six o’clock. The man who had been at the wheel before me relieved me for a few minutes to get some coffee. I took the coffee aud came aft when the ship struck. She was full almost at once. My wife and Mary Kelly and another woman clung to me naked. The back wash of the sea that broke over carried us right aft. The women all screamed at first but were soon brave aud believed us when we said there was no danger. They were put in the smoke-house and covered. I put a rug and my jacket on my wife. Mary Kelly would not go into the house but helped with the ropes, and seemed to wish to encourage the men, but they were not afraid. They made the same noise as ever. You would have thought to hear them swear that they could not sink. I was not more afiaid than the rest, but the wife kept clinging to me, and that made me weak. The captain was cross, and scolded me, but I could not push her away at such a time. I wish to God I had taken my chum’s advice and put her and the chil i in the second mate’s boat. Then I would not have to look for them on the beach. When the carpenter was ordered out of the boat for them to take charge he said, “Thank God, I’m safe.” The ship was the safest place then. If the wind had not come up she would have been there yet. The men complained of one of the hands in the boat. He was afraid of getting wet, and kept looking for the sea and missing his stroke. The captain had him hoisted out. He also said, “ Praise God I’m out of her.” I was ordered to take his place. I was crying, as I could not bear leaving the wife and child. The captain was not cross then. He persuaded and held out his arms for the child. I gave her to him, and said, “ Now, captain, you’ll look after her, won’t you ? ” He said, “Yes, Frank, I will bo sure of that.” I tied the baby's hood on. This is it (holding up a little blue hood). I found it on the beach. I tied this shawl (holding it up) round the wife, and lashed it on with two manilla yarns. See how it is torn with washing off ! That is all that is left to me now. I would not take £SO for those two things. I had £ll and a watch. I gave them to her to make her feel sate, and so that she would have something if I was drowned. She cried out to the other women, “ Don’t be afraid ; Frank will save us ; he’s going in the boat.” She thought I could do anything, poor girl. I think I hear her now. The other boat is twenty-four feet long, but it upset end over end and not sideways. That will shew you how the sea was. We all got ashore hut the boy who cleaned the brass on the ship. Just before we upset the poor chap said “ I believe its through me that the vessel struck, for I’m very unlucky.” I dare say those on board thought it very hard that we did not come back, but they saw the fix we were in. I would have gone back to the wife if I had been sure of being lost ; perhaps I would not now but all that day I would. I never prayed so much in my life before. I prayed for help aud then ran again to the point to see if there was a steamer coming from the Bluff. I saw when the smoke house broke away the captain lead the women forward. He had my little girl in his arms. When the cook came ashore he told me that Mary Kelly was washed off at the same time as himself. He did his best to save her, but could not. Dr. Campbell was setting the engineer’s leg and was washed off at the jsame time, long before dark. All the women were drowned and all the children but one child. The captain stood in the rigging, holding on there There were about forty men in the rigging ; I kept my eyes on them. As it grew darker the last thing I saw was the captain holding my little girl. I am certain that he died with her in his arms, but he could not save her. Denz concluded, “ No, it was not to be ; it was not to be,” and playing with the little blue hood, he sobbed audibly. The above is not colored, but only arranged a little. May 11. The body of Ft. W. Jones, late purser, was recovered yesterday afternoon, and identified by the name written on his shirt and a paper found on his body. Four more bodies were washed ashore to-day, two of them being headless. They were most fearful objects to behold, and, indeed, all the bodies now coming ashore are in a dreadful condition, and the police, who are compelled not only to handle them but to examine them minutely in the hope of identification, deserve the greatest commiseration. There are twelve constables still on the beach, amongst them being Superintendent Buckley and Detective Twohy, of Invercargill, both of whom have been untiring in their efforts to recover and identify the bodies, and who have earned the gratitude of the friends of the deceased passengers who have visited the scene of the wreck by their civility and ever-readi-ness to render them all the assistance in their power. The Dunedin constables probably return to-morrow-There is a petition going the rounds here for signatures, having for its object the establishment of a telegraph-station at Fortrose, the nearest township to the scene of the disaster. The nearest telegraph station at present is Wyndham—a distance of between thirty and thirty-five miles from the beach. There has been no wreckage of any value come ashore up to the time of the reporter leaving the beach. OFFICIAL ENQUIRY. Dunedin, May 10. The Court of Nautical Assessors appointed to enquire as to the cause of the wreck of the Tararua, met this morning, the members being Mr. Simpson, R.M., Captain Thompson, Harbormaster at Port Chalmers, Captain McGowan, master of the ship Bsnvenne. Mr. Denniston appeared for the Crown to conduct the enquiry on behalf of the Collector of Customs, who is present ; Mr. Allan Holmes to watch the proceedings on beha’f of the first and second mates, and Mr. T. B. Chapman on behalf of the representatives of the late Captain Garrard. Mr. Simpson said he supposed it was usual to hand in certificates of officers if they had them. The certificates of the first and second mates were then handed in. Up till the adjournment at five o’clock p.m. the first officer, Robert Lindsay, was the only witness examined. The following are the most important portions of the evidence, omitting facts previously brought to light :—I hold a master’s certificate, No. 131 (produced). We left Port Chalmers at 5 p.m. on the 2Sth April. The steamer had five boats. They were all, with the exception of the dingy, on the chocks in the davits ; the two foremost boats were under the bridge. They were both life-boats, with corks round the inside ; they were supposed to carry from 20 to 30 persons each. We had two boats of similar build, before the after-gangway, aft of the other boats. These latter were life-boats iu build, but without corks. They would also carry from 20 to 30 persons each. Then there was the dingy. Going along the coast, we carry that on the deck, and she was so carried on the 28th. At 1.30 a.m. we were supposed to be off Long Point, called the captain. I saw the land about four to five miles off, but could not observe the Point. I believed we were off Long Point, because she had run the distance by the log. We had run 15 miles from 12 o’clock. I had nothing in the land itself to give lay position. I simply judged it by the distance logged. There was a haze over the laud when I called the captain. He came on deck, looked at the position of the ship, and said she was making a very good course. I gave him the order book. H« wrote down the course at W.S.W., and gave
instructions to call him at 3.45 a.m. He then went to his cabin. He was not undressed, but was ready for calling at any time. I steered the course then given until 3.45, and th=a called the captain. At that time I judged we were about Slope Point. I judged that by the time we had been running on the course given. I had nothing on the land to gui ie me. The log was not hauled after 1.30 a.m. When the captain came on deck he said, “ W el!, let her run on this course until 4 o'clock, and then alter the course to W” I continued the previous course until 4 o'clock. We were still going about ten knots. I went below at 4 o’clock, giving the. orderbook to the second officer, who was on the bridge. I saw the course altered to due west. At that period I only saw the haze the land and nothing on shore to indicate where we were. Then I went below. The log was not hauled again, and we relied entirely for our position on the rate we had run. As far as I am aware we made no allowance for tide or currents. I ep-eak entirely for myself. There is a current marked ou the chart of one to two knots. Had we been at 4 o’clock where we supposed we were, aud continued steering due west until we sighted Dog Island light, we should have escaped the laud. The weather at 4 a.m. was the same as it had been all night hazy over the land and as clear as possible above hr-ad. There was just a light haze over the land. By the Court ; I had not a table of the variation of theTararua's compasses. I knew the standard compass was correct according to the compass card I had. I did not kno w the error of the , 4 standard compass ; the captain had the de- ' viation tables and the adjustment cards. The compasses had not been adjusted since I was in the Tararua. The course that I have described, is, to the best of my knowledge, the course always kept by the Tararua at that point. We lost sight of the Nuggets at twenty minutes past 1 o'clock. We did not take their bearings then. As the ship only carried two officers, there was no other in the watch with me. I cannot say whether the error of the compasses was determined from time to time during the voyage, I never took an amplitude, and I cannot say whether the captain did. We often took four point bearings of a light as we passed, but we did not on this occasion of passing the Nuggets this time. The captain usually put in the book to take four point bearings when passing a light. I did nothing except what was stated in the books,—By Mr. Denniston: The captain was on deck when she passed the Nuggets, and did not inquire the bearings. I was awakened by the shock of the vessel striking. I heard the captain's order as I was coming out of my room to call all hands to cleat away the boats. We had no particular station to run to. As to the boats, I am aware of no directions on board the Tararua showing the position of men and officers taking charge of the boats in case of accidents. I never saw any boat drill ou board the Tararua. I went to the foremost boat so as to take charge of my watch as they came ou deck. I had received no orders to get that particular boat out. The captain was giving orders coolly and collectedly. At the first shock of striking there was a deal of screaming among the women. After the boats were swung out to the davit heads everything was quiet, aud there was good order, both passengers and crew being cool. I saw all the four boats were slung out clear of the ship's side, ready for lowering ; that took, I think, about twenty minute*. I did not observe anything when I first came ou deck but the broken water round the ship. It was very dark. I was entirely occupied with getting out the boats, and at that time paid no attention to the position of the ship.—After an adjournment the examination of the chief officer was resumed. Ho corrected a previous statement by saying that the aftermost boats of the Tararua were furnished with cork, and then continued, in answer to Mr. Denniston— After the boats were got ready nothing more was done until daylight. It was dawn about a quarter past 6. The vessel was distant about three-quarters of a mile from the shore. In my opinion a line could not have been aken from the vessel to the shore by the boat on account of the under drift. We had no light lines of sufficient length to have reached the shore, so that a heavier line could not have been got ashore by means of a light line. I think the second mate’s boat reached to about 500 feet from the beach when she came back. Six more passengers volunteered to go in her. The second mate, on returning to the vessel, informed the captain that he could get them ashore, but that they would have to swim.— By the Court: When I got on shore the sea was washing over the after-part of the vessel. The sea was not rough enough, although it was washing over the veesel, to do a great deal of damage. Between 11 and 12 o’clock no boats coulef have got near the vessel, as the sea had risen very rapidly. When I left the vessel I did not think she was in aay danger. Towards 1 or 2 o’clock p.m., I noticed the sea beginning to break over her fore aud aft, and I then saw the passengers being washed off the forecastlehead. Ido not think that after half-past 11 o’clock in the morning any steamer or boats could have got near enough to render any assistance. When the steamer’s lights were seen the sea was running mountains high, making a clean breach over the ship, although it was calm overhead. After half-past II o’clock, in my opinion, a boat could not have got nearer the ship than a quarter of a mile. My opinion is that it must: have been the southerly swell that put the Tararua ashore.— By Mr, Denniston : In my opinion all was done that could be done for the safety of the passengers after the vessel struck. The course pursued after the wreck recommended itself to my judgment. No steamer could have got near eneugh to do any good. I do think if a vessel had hove-to to windward of the wreck, that she could have floated a small line down to her. The broken water round the ship was for about two ships lengths. I can’t say how many passengers we had. We had six life-buoys on board. I do not know of any cork jackets ; two life-buoys were ou the bridge, two hanging over the stern and one on each quarter.—By the Court : I call it Waipapa where the vessel went ashore. We could not determine our position with accuracy when we altered onr course from W.ti.W. to W. A light on Waipapa Point would render navigation between Port Chalmers aud the Bluff safe. I know of two vessels that have gone ashore in the neighborhood of Waipapa. The Gothenburg was said to. have struck on Waipapa. That is the point on which a light should be placed. It is the great danger of the locality. I gave the distance between Waipapa and Slope Point as fifteen miles, after measuring by the compasses on the chart. I now find it is only seven aud a-half-miles, measuring from the actual position of the wreck. We must have been only a mile and a-half off Slope Point, aud only half a mile clear of the foul ground abreast of that point. I did not when at Slope Point bear the roar of the breakers, although we were only half a mile away. It is not impwsible that an error may have suddenly happened to the Tararua’s compasses. About tire time we altered the course to west some local attraction might cause such an error. The conclusion I come to now is that the vessel had not ran her distance at the time I went below, and if that was so, the course was erroneously altered. May 11. The enquiry into the causes which led to the wreck of the Tararua, was resumed to-day. Mr. James Smith appeared in place of Mr. Holmes for the first and second mate*. Robert Lindsay, recalled, gave further evidence, the following being the most important parts.—Mr. Simpson : I wish to ask you one question. When your captain came on deck at 3.45 had you any conversation with him ? Witness ; None at all, further than that he sail the ship was making every good course. - Mr. Simpson : You had no conversation as towhere the ship was as to her position ?—Witness : No. —Mr. Simpson : At 4 o'clock was there any remark Witness ; No. Mr. Chapman : I think you told us yesterday that you said nothing at the inquest about the position of the ship _ when you went below at 4 a.m. ? Witness z Hot that I am aware of.—By Mr, Simpson z A mate takes no observations along the coast, but if the ship were in danger it would be hie duty to call the captain's attention to it. By Captain Thompson ; I never tested the course between Port Chalmers and the Nuggets by the leading lights. My duty on fearing Port Chalmers is to be at the fore-castle-head. Captain Thompson : You steered three courses that night—first, for the Nuggets ; then for Slope Point, then the fatal course west. That course west was a very particular one—there was the danger o£ Waipapa Point on the one hand, and Toby Rock on the other. Do you not think it would have bee a a wise precaution to test that particular point by the leading lights from Otago Heads.—Witness : It would not be for me to go to the captain and suggest those things.—Captain Thompson ; Do_ you throk h would be wise test that particular point ?—Witness : Yes, if I thought the compasses were not correct, Thompson : When you left with tbs boat with the three
men and the boy -who were to be lauded, did it not occur to you that you and the second mate were in possession of the only means of escape from the wreck, and that being so, you •ugfat to take great care of the boats ? Witness : ' Certainly.— Captain Thompson : Then how was it you came into the surf ? Witness : We were not in the surf when the sea which capsized the boat struck her. It was a blind roller that upset her. They were coming in heavily.—Captain Thompson : You have told us that you sounded with the oar, and got eight feet of water.—Witness : X was then eight or ten lengths outside the breakers.—Captain Thompson ; How long was it after you sounded before you were struck Witness : About fire minutes. We were backing in quietly.—Captain Thompson : From your experience as a seaman, did you not consider that you were in great danger from the blind rollers when you only had eight feet of water ?—Witness : I did not think of that. I was only thinking of how to save the lives of the passengers. When X left the ship there was not such a sea running as to lead me to expect a break in eight feet of water. Captain ' Thompson : Now, what plan did you propose to 4 ' .dopt to land these three men ?—Witness ; We bad heaving lines with us. My idea was that one man should jump over and take one end of the line ashore, and then we in the boat would tend the line and make the others fast to it. John Williams, passenger, gave unimportant evidence. After the lunch adjournment, Edward Maloney, second mate, went into the box. Hollowing is the most interesting portion of the evidence :—I hold a second maters certificate from the Victoria Board, No. 14 I am in the employment of the Union Steamship Company, and have been so for three years and five months. I have been second officer all that time. After detailing what took place up to 5 o’clock on the morning of the wreck, he proceeded ; It might be ten or fifteen minutes afterwards when I again fancied that I could hear the surf on the beach. 1 went aft and told the captain I thought she was rather close. He was then looking at the chart on his table. He came and looked along on the starboard side, and rushed to the steer-ing-wheel, which is aft in the Tararua. He put the helm hard a-starboard. As the ship was coming round she struck. After she struck she dragged heavily for perhaps a few minutes, and then bumped and settled down. After she first struck she canted her head to northward. I saw the broken water all round her. I could then see the loom of the land. He then went on to detail, as previously stated, what was done after the vessel struck, in the way of lauding from boats, etc., and concluded ; I have been with Captain Garrard for two months. I believe he kept a book, in which he marked down the courses run, but I never saw it, I had no knowledge of the coast such as the boat harbors. I made uo attempt to make for them. All the boats and appliances were in good order. The ship was well found. In my opinion the best was done after the wreck that could be done under the circumstances. At the time of the wreck everybody on board was perfectly sober. Captain Garrard was a teetotaller. By the Court : I stood off and on with the boat during the afternoon to see whether I could render any assistance. the vessel was standing all right, and the passengers were on the forecastle-head and in the rigging. The water was breaking over the after-part of the vessel. Ido not think that a steamer could then have got inside the reef with safety—at least that is my belief.—Mr. Simpson : Could she have got in an hour previously ?—Witness : After 12 o’clock the sea was rolling very heavily ; it got up all of a sudden. I did not see the Kakanni until daylight",—Captain Thompson : If the Kakanux had been round about middty, could she have taken up her position outside the vessel and floated a line down to her?—Witness : Ido not think so.—Mr. Simpson : Then you say it was impossible for you to be within hail of the ship ?—Witness : I think it was.—Mr. Simpson : Hid yon make any attempt ? Did yon go as near as you could ‘ —Witness : I did with safety to the boat.—Mr. Simpson : You knew that the first mate’s boat, having got lost, the passengers were isolated, except il’oiii assistance your boat rendered?—Witness ; There were two other boats on the ship, a dingy and a life-boat, —Mr. Simpson : But if it was not possible for you to stand within hail of the vessel, was it possible to get those boats out ?—Witness: I went as near as I could with safety.—Mr. Simpson: Is ow, did you run any risk ! —Witness: I did.—Mr, Simpson: What was the result of that risk ?—Witness : One man got capsized fi’om the boat. He swam to the boat again.—By Mr. Simpson ; It would have been impossible for me to stay between the vessel and the shore so as to be of service in picking up any who might be washed off.— By Captain Thompson : I did not know the state of the barometer the night before. I made no remark about approachiug bad weather. It did not occur to me while in the boat to suggest that the other boats should be put out to sea with passengers.—Mr, Simpson : It did not occur to you to give any opinion except as to the particular state of things you were sent for ?—Witness : 1 thought the ship was quite safe up to 10 or II o’clock. —Captain Thompson : You know that the morning is the- best time to work on the coast of New Zealand ? Witness : I am not aware of that. —By Captain Thompson : I took no cast of the lead that night at all. It was about five or ten minutes—it might be five minutes —after I told the captain the second time that I thought the ship was rather close in that she struck. By a vessel running ten miles, that would represent five-sixths of a mile. The man on the look-out gave no alarm. —By Captain McGowan ; Although I fancied X heard the surf I gave no orders to the man on the look-ont to keep a sharp look-out.—Mr. Simpson ; Would it not have been prudent for you, as second mate, on the bridge at the time, to tell him to keep a sharp look-out, fancying you heard the breakers in the distance ? Witness : I put no question to him, although I fancied I heard the noise of the surf. His duty is to keep a sharp look-out.—Mr. Denniston ; A look-ont may slumber sometimes, and it might be worth while reminding him.—By Mr. Simpson ; I never saw the look-out man walking about "among the crew of the boat. He obeyed my orders implicitly. They made the remark several times that it was not safe to stop inside, but this did not influence me in the slightest.—By Mr. Smith : When passing headlands, and the ship being on her course, it is not usual to cast the lead without the captain’s orders. I have been 16 years trading on the coast of New Zealand. When I went aft the second time, it was because 1 heard the sound of breakers. It was very faint, and thus only a suspicion on my part. The lookout man was evidently awake, and would turn about every half-minute. It was impossible for me to return to the ship on the Friday afternoon, as the sea was so high, and if I had attempted to get close to her, a boat such as I was in could not have lived. The sea was breaking on both the east and west sides of the ship. I had about twelve years’ experience of the West Coast of New Zealand, where the landing of passengers is done by tender when the sea is running hk'h. I have never experienced such a high sea on those occasions as it was on Friday afternoon.—Mr. Denniston ; Had Captain Garrard hurt himself ?—Witness : He got a small scratch on his right hand, that’s all, — Mr. Simpson : Would you have stood out if the captain had not told you to do so V Witness : I would, sir.
May 12. The Tararua enquiry was resumed to day. Thomas Dixon, Edward Johnston, and Frank Denz, first gave evidence, but it was not of an important nature. Ail agreed as to the dan "or to the boat in the vicinity of the i wreck, and bore out the second of opinion in this respect.— Captain Ghatfield, of the Elngarooma, said ; I have had about twenty years’ experience of the New Zealand coast. I know well the part of the coast where the Tararua was lost. I consider the Waipapa Point one of the most dangerous we have on the coast of New Zealand. The point is low, and a low long reef lies off it, and any sea at all on the coast causes a vapor to arise which obstructs the land and makes it hard for a master to judge bis distance off the land. I generally run abreast of Waipapa before I change my course at all. I suggest that a rod cutting light should be placed on the slope of the point, which would cover the dangerous part of Waipapa ; also a post in the Dog Island light, with a red sector showing over the Toby Eock. It would be much safer to have both these suggestions carried out, but we might do without the cutting light ou Dog Island. The danger of Toby Eock causes us to hug Waipapa in heavy weather. We always stop till daylight before we come to Waipapa Point. —Captain Sinclair, of the Arawata, deposed ; I agree with what Captain Ghatfield has said, excepting that, when the weather is moderately clear, I always sight Dog Island light before changing ray course. The light which ought to be on Slope Point should be white to seaward, with a red are S. 4G' W., which would run right across Toby Rock. By / this means both dangers would be avoided by
one light. I have passed Waipapa about 236 times, nearly always in the dark or in the dutk of the evening.—Chaarlea Steward, able seaman, add : I relieved Denz when he went to get his coffee at about five minutes past 5. He gave me the course W. These courses were all by the standard compass. I kept her west. I saw no land and heard nothing. When I came aft the second mate was on the bridge. 1 believe I saw the captain coming down from the bridge as I went aft, but I will not swear to it. She struck about ten minutes after I took the wheel. I saw the second mate coming aft to the captain’s room, which is just abaft the mainmast. That would be about five minutes before she struck. They spoke together, and the captain sang out, _ “ Hard a-starboard/* Tieforc this X had noticed him looking over the port side. He ran and helped° me to heave the wheel round a-star-board. She answered her helm, but I cannot say how far she came round. She struck immediately afterwards —about a minute after the captain rushed to the wheel. I stuck to the wheel until she broke the gear. She lifted the wheel up three times, and the gear all unshipped- I let go the wheel," and then caught bold of it again. I did not like to run away, so I staved there a few seconds, but finding I could be of uo further use I then went forward. — John Weston, able seaman, deposed ; I relieved Barnett on the look-out about 5 or 10 minutes after 5, When I went forward I saw the loom of the high laud, hut not the beach. I heard nothing. I looked towards the bridge, because I had orders always to keep a bright look-out, but I saw nobody on it. I saw some one aft. I don’t thiuk I was on the forecastle-head more than from five to eight minutes when the ship struck. Just about a minute before she struck I saw the foam round the vessel, and thought she was in some current. I did not sing out about it. I did not think the foam meant any danger. I saw nothing else, and heard nothing before she struck. The foam was not like water breaking over rocks. It looked as if :t was boiling. Just as she struck I was in the act of coming aft to see what the foam was so comical like. Then she struck aft, and sent me spinning. I got ashore from the mate’s boat. I don’t recollect seeing anyone on the bridge after I went on the look-out.—The last witness to-day was George Lawrence, who swam ashore from the first °boat and sent a messenger to the Telegraph Office. He said he did not say auytbing about danger, only to assistance immediately. On concluding his evidence Mr. Simpson said Lawrence should be highly complimented for his pluck in swimming ashore. It was a very brave act. At 5.30 p.ra. tbe proceedings were adjourned till Saturday. May 15. The enquiry was continued yesterday, evidence being taken all day. The first witness was Antonio Michaeliff the cook, who gave a statement of what took place on board after the boats left. It was a little fuller than his statement which has already been published, but differed little in the facts. William Hill, a steerage passenger, who went to sea in the seconcl mate’s boat, said : Thejseoond mate said to me the first time we stood off from the ship, when we were about sixty yards off “ I think we had better stand out in the offing for a time to save the boat.” At that time we bad just seen the first mate lose his boat in the surf. I said to him, “ Dear me, then what are our hopes,” referring to the ship. The second mate said to me “ We must trust in Providence. I have no doubt we shall soon have help down either from the Bluff or Port Chalmers, and then if we save the boat we shall have her to work with.” The second mate was quite cool. He said also that if the sea moderated, we should have her to work with. After keeping on and off three times, we pulled into the offing, so as to clear the reefs. This witness added :—ln my opinion the first mate did not act with judgment in near the breakers with his boat. I have had ten years’ experience of the sea. I have been in the P. and O. service and other services. It is fifteen years since I left the sea. When I formed this opinion, I was in the second mate’s boat, between the ship and the shore. The ship was about a mile from the shore. The second mate’s boat was about half way between tbe ship and the shore, and the mate’s boat was about thirty or forty yards from the shore. I saw the mate's boat among the breakers with the men in the boats. Without a doubt to my mind, the mate backed his boat too close in to the breakers. It wss spoken of in our boat, and I expressed my opinion to the same effect as I have now, but perhaps not so strongly. The second mate also expressed the opinion that the mate had gone too near. This opinion was expressed as the boat was turning over and over. I had asked the captain if he would allow me to go on the reef and try to effect a landing. I did not tell him I was a seaman. I can swim. He said, “ Will you do so ?” I said I would, and I would hold up my hat if it was prudent. He replied, “Not only your hat, but your hands.” We watched for a landing, and saw that we could not land. The second mate asked me if I would land, and I said “ No.” I asked the captain to send me in the second mate’s boat, and arranged with him that it I could get a lauding he should send the ladies first. Mr. Smith, counsel for the first and second mates, cross-examined. Mr. Smith : I have one or two questions to ask. You say you noticed the capsizing of the first mate’s boat ? Witness : I did.—Mr. Smith : Will you swear that the second mate spoke at that time ? Witness : Yes, as often as yon wish, Jr.—Mr. Smith : Can you say whether he had his face or his back to the boat 1 Witness ; I called his attention to the boat, and then he looked. —Mr. Smith : Why did yon not tell us this before 1 Witness ; I did, sir ; I said that I sang out that she was in the breakers.—Mr. Smith : You have said that it was a moment of great excitement. Why was it ? Witness ; The loss of the boat was the cause of the excitement.— Mr. Smith : In what sense do you use the word excitement ? Who was excited /—On witness hesitating, Mr. Simpson explained to him that he should understand that what he had said had a serious bearing upon certain individuals, and he should be very careful to answer Mr. Smith correctly.—Mr. Smith : Who displayed the excitement ?—Witness : I don’t know. Perhaps I may. take it to myself and say that it was I who was excited. I felt excited when I saw the boat capsize. I do not know how other people felt—Mr. Smith ; Now, can you take upon yourself to say positively that anyone spoke besides yourself '!■ —Witness ; I have told you that others spoke. In my opinion a small steamer could have lived between the ship and the shore up to 2 o’clock—that is so far as the state of the sea was concerned. I should have no doubt about a vessel drawing 0 feet of water. I would not say she could have lived in there without risk, as there would have been a great risk.— —By Mr. Smith : I remember that when the second mate’s boat came from the reef after taking Maher off, she was nearly capsized. If she had not righted before the next breaker, she would, in all probability, have capsized. I consider the second mate handled his boat particularly well under the circumstances. I know that although a boat may be handled with the greatest skill, she may be capsized. 1 have been in a worse sea in a boat than I was in that day. On one occasion I remember was when I was in the North of England, off Sunderland, when I was in a collier.—Gustave Quilten, George Bobbins, Thomas Davis, John Chattertou, Henry Deehy, Toker Nicholson, and Frank Dahl were each called, and asked whether they had any statement which they wished to make, or anything special to speak of, but they all replied in the negative, and were not sworn. Louis Matheson, master of the schooner Pioneer, deposed : I was lying with my vessel at Fortrose Jetty at the time of the wreck. I heard about it a quarter or 20 minutes past 0 cn Friday morning, from Charles Gibb. Fortrose is between eight or nine miles from the scene of the wreck. When I heard the news I borrowed a horse and reached the beach about 11 o’clock. I saw the steamer. She was lying low on to the beach ; the sea seemed to break over the stern and sweep along the deck forward. A heavy ground swell was coming in to the beach. From the beach we did not see the water breaking over her until about noon. At that time a boat might have got near enough to the ship to embark passengers from the yardarm, but a small steamer could not have lain with safety nearer than three quarters of a mile. The ship did not seem to be in danger. There was a light wind from the sea. The swell was heavier than usual. It had been heavy all the week. I do not think a boat could go near enough to sling people after 12, and I question whether a boat could have got within half a mile of her with safety after that time. I do not thiuk the southerly swell running would make such a difference to a steamer travelling ten knots an hour as to throw her so far ont of her course. I question whether the Bakanni could have done very much good if she had arrived before dark. I think a light on Waipapa or Slope Point would have saved the ship. Slope Point would be
the best. I do not thiuk a line could have been floated to the Tararua from another vessel. I have been eighteen years on the coast.— John Spence, surveyor, stated the wreck was a distance of 38 chains from the part of the beach. The following is the evidence uf Mr. James Mills, the managing director of the Union Company : There has been no change in the equipment of the Tararua since the issue of the aea-going certificate produced by the Marine Engineer, in December, 1880. I produce _ a list of the crew as accurately as I can, which gives the number of forty. There was one man shipped on tbe day the vessel sailed, but his name is not known. I also produce a list of the passengers, compiled from the ship’s papers up to the time of her arrival at Port Chalmers, with the addition of those booked here ; also an additional list made up from telegrams addressed to ourselves, and from the list published in the newspapers. The total number of those in the first catalogue, viz., those who were on board the ship when she came into port, were thirty-six men, nine women, and ten children. There booked at Port Chalmers twenty-three men, two women, and four children, and the crew was made up of thirty-nine men and one woman. This makes the total up to 152. Twenty were saved. The Tararua was equipped up to statutory regulations. I cannot say of my own knowledge whether she had life boats. She had six life buoys. Some of the steamers are provided with life belts. We took over the Tararua about two years and four months ago. She was furnished with new engines and boilers, and a new upper deck, and was thoroughly overhauled in 1876. She was an exceptionally strong ship. Captain Garrard had been in our employment since 1876. He joined in May, 1376, as second officer of the Hawea. In July, 1877, he was first officer of the Wanaka ; in September, IS7B, master of the Ladybird ; in June, 1879, master of the Albion ; and in March, 1831, ho joined the Tararua. He was our junior master in 1379, and I am not aware of any alteration having taken place. The company had a high opinion of his ability and attention to business. The chief mate held that position in McMeckan, Blackwood and Co.’s employment previous to November, 1878, when he entered our service, in which he remained as chief mate. He had been in the Albion until March, 1881, and until recently Captain Garrard held a high opinion of him, but lately he had changed that opinion.—On Mr- Denniston proceeding to ask the witness if this had been brought before him officially, Mr. Smith objected. Mr. Simpson said he thought it would be better to admit the evidence for the mate’s sake, because it might explain the automaton character of the mate in the ship. He could not think of a first officer reduced to a mere automaton, as he was in this case. After some argument the evidence was admitted by the Bench, and the witness continued : —I received a telegram from Captain Garrard as he was coming down the coast, asking for a change of chief officer on arrival at Port Chalmers. When the ship arrived I had a conversation with Captain Garrard, the result of which was that it was agreed that if he wished it the change could be made at once ; but as our spare chief officer was not on the spot we preferred to postpone the change until Captain Garrard’s return from Melbourne. He was satisfied with that arrangement. Apart from the merits of the case we would make such a change at the request of a master. We could not have a master and mate on such terms. The Tararua was valued on her policy at £IB,OOO. She was insured for £14,000. I produce the ordinary instructions to officers. We do not keep an official record of the courses. I hand in a rough estimate of the cargo. The first intimation we had of the mishap to the Tararua was by a telegram from Wyndham, dated 29th April. It was entered there at 12.15 and placed in my hands about 12.45. The first intimation we had that the Tararua was in danger was when the second mate boarded the Hawea and told me. that ho was afraid she bad not lasted during the night.— By Mr. Smith : Personally, I know nothing against the chief officer, Mr. Lindsay.—By Mr. Denniston ; I always understood that the standard compass of the Tararua was absolutely correct.—By the Court : I had not the slightest idea of what steamer or steamers were in Invercargill. From the re-assuring nature of the telegram it never oscurred to me to think of what vessels were there, or were available.—By Captain Thomson : The Government sent vessels very promptly to the assistance of any boats in trouble in the neighborhood of Wellington, _ but it never occurred to the company that it was the duty of the Government to do so. That did not prevent the company from sending assistance earlier. Nothing could have been done beyond what was done, even if the telegrams had been of an alarming character, as the Kakanui could not have left Invercargill until the tide served. I acted under the advice of our marine superintendent, who went with me in the Hawea. The other evidence taken up to the adjournment comprises that of captains who knew the coast, and only spoke as to its dangers. At the conclusion of the enquiry, and prior to the retiring of the Court, the question was raised whether at the close of the evidence lawyers would be permitted to address the Court. The Court expressed its opinion on the point to the effect that there was no charge to which they could address themselves. The Court however agreed to consider whether it should, with a view of giving lawyers the privilege asked for to formulate a charge, or whether, as things now stand, lawyers may make their speeches to urge the Court to restore certificates. The enquiry was adjourned till Tuesday. May 17. The enquiry into the Tararua disaster was resumed to-day.—Mr. Simpson said that the Court wanted particularly to know about the charts used by the captain, and asked Mr. Mills, who was present, whether he was able to supply them with any particulars. The Court must be in a position to answer all the questions which might be put by the Board of Trade.—Mr. Denniston suggested that Captain Cameron would perhaps be in a better position than Mr. Mills to supply any information of this description, and accordingly Captain Cameron was re-called. He said, — I am marine superintendent for the Union Steamship Company. Hook after the general equipment of the steamers owned by the company. I was on board the steamer Tararua on the afternoon of the 28th ult., the day on which she left Port Chalmers. She had five life boats. I think each of them in ordinary weather could carry thirty-three people, including the crew. The two aft boats were of the same build, but were not fitted with cork. They carried about thirty people each. I would put the difference in carrying capacity between the fore and after boats at three people. The great advantage in the cork is when the boats get full of water. The dingy would carry ten or twelve people. The other life-saving implements on board the ship were six life buoys and twelve life belts, which were in the cell locker, forward of the steerage. When I last saw them the twelve lifebelts were cork packets. She bad the latest admiralty charts. I do not remember when the compasses were last adjusted. The last time they were adjusted was in Melbourne, I learned that from Captain Muir, who preceded Garrard in command of the Tararua. It would be'perhaps a year ago. The standard compass stoo’d on the poop deck, immediately abaft the skylight; it always stood there since I knew the vessel—a period of four years. My attention, as superintendent, was never called to any irregularities in the compasses. Captain Garrard called my attention to the fact that the standard compass wasquite correct, I cannot say on what date the ship was last swung. She was last swung in Melbourne when Captain Muir was in command. 1 should say it was about twelve months ago, but I have this information only at secondhand. I knew the particular cargo she had on board when she left Port Chalmers on the 28th April. I do not think the cargo would have affected the compasses. It is three months ago since I saw the lifeboats. I was not present when Mr. Nancarrow made a survey of her in Wellington three months ago. I cannot account for the absence of any mention of the life belts in the declaration dated July, 1880. Mr. Simpson : It has been given in evidence that the Tararua had 151 persons on board. Had she boats to carry all the persons ou board ? Taking your carrying capabilities and everything into account, your figures make 136. What is your answer to that ?—Witness : According to the carrying capabilities that I have given of the boats on board the ship and the number of them, the boats would not have carried all the people on board at the time of the accident. The masts and sails and rigging were in good order when I last inspected the vessel. It is my duty as superintendent to hand the company’s regulations for officers to the officers. I did not hand them to the officers of the Tararna, but they had them before they joined the ship. The second mate was supplied with a copy when he was on the Kotorua, and the
chief mate get a copy when he waa on the Albion. The Tararua waa drawing 10ft aft and 14ft forward when leaving Port Chalmers. The news of the accident waa communicated to me about twenty minutes to 1 on the day it occurred. The steps I took were to wire immediately to Port Chalmers to get the Hawea in readiness. She was ready by 5 o’clock. That was the earliest possible hour by which ahe could be got ready. The apparatus on the Tararua for giving alarm consisted of blue light?, rockets, and a gun. The Tararua was a strongly-built vessel. She had never been lengthened. She was due at the Bluff at 7 o’clock in the morning. We have an agent there, who takes charge for the company. It is the duty of our agents at the different ports to report a vessel when she ia overdue. I have expected to hear from the agent at the Bluff before eleven o’clock. Mr. Mills here stated the vessel was so reported by their agent, who inquired at what time she left Port Chalmers. By Captain Thompson : Captain Garrard informed me that the standard compass was correct. There was no deviation at any of the points. On the trip previous to the accident I examined the log book, and found the deviation, of the compass stated. It is my duty to see to the loading of a vessel before shs leaves Port Chalmers, All the crew were engaged loading on the 28th, All the crew are expected to be at work at the different ports on the coasts at wnich our vessel? load. There is an arrangement by which the men who have to work immediately on going to sea get less work than the rest of The shore hands relieve them at one hatch.—Mr. Smith : I have remark to make. X understand your "Worship to assume there is conclusive proof that the Tararua bad 151 passengers onboard, —Mr. Simpson : I have only mentioned it as Mr. Mills’s estimates.—Mr. Smith : Of course Mr. Mills s evidence may be divided into two parts. Tor one part he speaks of his own certain knowledge as to the exact passengers and crew on board, the other part is gathered from newspaper data.—Mr. Simpson : Mr, Mills does not give his own personal knowledge, but has founded his statements partially on the newspapers, the particulars he got from the company’s different agents, and letters, That, I understand, is the foundation of his evidence. His own personal knowledge only amounts to 130. The excess beyond that is gathered from data and newspaper paragraphs, which he looked upon as reliable. Of course Mr. Mills cannot tell us the exact number.—Mr, Mills interposed that he had separate lists of those he knew for certain were on hoard, and those he Had been informed of.—Mr, Simpson : Then we will assume that Mr. Smith did not wish the Court to infer that there were 151 people on board when the vessel left Port Chalmers. I do not know you have much to fear, Mr. Smith. Here ia the Government declaration for 224 (?) passengers, and that is one thing I wish to call the Government’s attention to. You are a long way under that. —Mr. James Mills recalled, said Captain Cameron gave the proper hour at which the steamer was due at the Bluff. During the forenoon the agent wired to us that she had not arrived.. X produce the telegram sent to us by Captain Garrard in reference to the chief officer. The telegram was sent by our Bluff agent at 10.36 a.m., on the Friday. Our reply, stating when she had left, was sent at 11 a.m. I was not alarmed at all about the matter, as I could not judge of the weather, and steamers are sometimes as much as twenty-four hours overdue in bad weather. Mr. Simpson said there would be no more witnesses called, and the only point now was in reference to IVIr. Smith’s position, whether he wished to consider the evidence that had been laid before the Court. If Mr. Smith thought that it might be suggested that a charge might be laid agaiut any person he should be given an opportunity iu accordance with the Act of making an explanation. After considerable discussion, Mr. Smith said : Before I decide whether it is advisable to address the Court or not, I submit it is reasonable to ask what the Court’s real powers are. The Act is ambiguous in its terms. The sections which relate to the jurisdiction of this Court are as ambiguous as most Acts of Parliament. It is obvious that there is a very great difficulty, and I think I am reasonable in asking the Court to deliberately say first of all whether they feel they can assume the power of dealing with the first and second officers, and calling them to answer a charge which is not yet made, "When the Court comes to that definite conclusion then it will be for me to see whether I shall address the Court on the evidence or not.—Mr, Simpson : I will just say this ; I give you an opportunity of doing so in case the Court do that.—Mr. Smith ; I submit it is an unfair decision. It is calling upon me to fight with a shadow, I have no certain knowledge what these officers are charged with.—Mr. Simpson ; I will go a step farther, and say it is within the bounds of possibility that these nren may be implicated.—Mr. Smith ; Implicated in what ? Mr. Simpson : I do not know what these gentlemen’s opinions are, and yet you are asking me to give a decision which X cannot do yet. —Mr. Smith wanted to know whether it was intended to charge the officers with manslaughter.— Mr. Simpson ; You know very well that this Court cannot make a charge of manslaughter.—Mr. Smith : What have I to meet ? Never, in a British Court of justice, has such a demand been made upon a counsel representing persons. —Mr. Simpson said that iu all previous enquiries in this colony such a course had been followed. Mr, Smith urged that two wrongs did not make a right, and the sooner a reasonable construction was put on the Act to prevent such gross injustice being perpetrated the better.—Mr. Simpson : You decline, then, to take the opportunity I offer you because you are not charged ? Mr. Smith said he did not exactly say that men should be called upon to answer a charge which was not made known to them. He submitted it was a cruel position to place them in. He argued that he had made a reasonable request to the Court in asking them to determine first of all to say whether they took upon themselves the extraordinary jurisdiction of putting those persons upon their defence to answer a charge which was not made. If the Court came to that decision, he should probably ask them to hear him on the evidence to enable him to do this. He would ask for a reasonable adjournment.—Mr. Simpson : The Court will grant a reasonable adjournment.—Mr. Smith: I require some definite charge to be made. Will your Worship oblige me by saying what charge ? Mr. Simpson : There has been some wrongful act or default on the part of the officers. Mr. Smith : Which caused the wreck ? Is that the charge as made by the Court ?—Mr. Simpson :We are going to treat the charge as made.—Mr. Smith ’ Might I ask by whom ? —Mr. Simpson : I have given you my answer, Mr. Smith ; I decline to answer further.—Mr. Smith ; I sincerely wish to know what I have to meet. Am I to understand that the Court considers the first and second officers on their trial?—Mr. Simpson; Not on their trial. Their certificates run the risk of being cancelled because they, as officers of the ship, have been guilty of a wrongful act or default. —Mr. Smith : Pardon me a moment. My duty is a very serious one, therefore I want to know what I have to meet. I understand that the court considers these two men on their trial on a charge of having directly caused the loss of the Tararua. —Mr. Simpson : We said before that their certificates are liable to be cancelled or suspended.. They are not upon their trial. Mr. Smith : What I ask the court clearly to understand is this: whethertheyregard these two officers as charged with an offence—with having caused the loss of the Tararua, by their wrongful act or default, is that what you wish me to consider ?—Mr. Simpson : Yes ; we take the responsibility of saying that without their being formally charged. That is what I intended to intimate. Possibly I failed to make myself clear.—Mr. Smith : It is the first time it. I wish an adjournment to meet that charge. Mr. Simpson ; Will you suggest till what time ? Mr. Denniaton ; Say Thursday.—Mr. Smith ; I understand that my learned friend is coming here to support this charge?—Mr. Denniston : Is there any reason why I should now undergo a cross-examination ? I most certainly intend to be here, and I can only say that I am very much surprised at the question.—The Court, at a quarter to five, adjourned until 2 p m. on Thursday.
THE UNION* COMPANY’S SYSTEM. As a great deal has been said and written lately about the presumed discipline o£ the Union Company's service and the system of work on board, we take the opportunity of publishing a copy of the letter of instructions issued by the directors in IS/S to masters iu command of the Company's steamers. It runs as follows and speaks for itself : “D.ir Sir—ln order that there may be. some degree of uniformity iu the discipline on board the Company’s vessels, I havm issued a few general instructions for the of officers. A copy thereof is enclosed herewith, and I would ask you to see that properJ|atten-
tion is paid to them on board the steamer under yonr command. “ I also place before you, for your own guidance, a few directions which I beg you to observe carefully. “ When away from your home port I wish you to give your attention at all times to the ship's business and the interests of the Company, especially give your personal supervision to all cargo operations after ordinary working hours.
“ Give particular instructions to the officer in charge of the bridge that when he has any ctonlt as to the safety of the course on which the steamer may at any time ba proceeding, he shall, on his own authority, and without waiting to consult you, atop the steamer and then seek your direetions. Any officer neglecting this duty shall, on proof of the same, be dismia ed from the Company’s service. “I would suggest that yon have a nightorder book, to be kept on the bridge, aud into which you should note each evening the courses to be steered during the night, aud any other instructions for the officer of the watch you may deem necessary. “In dense fogs the lead must be kept constantly going, and if the soundings suggest the smallest doubt of the course you are i mining, you shall then turn your vessel’s head off from what you conceive to be the direction of the land, and wait until you are enabled to ascertain your position.
“ Make observations whene-er opportunity offers to ascertain the deviation of your compisses, and record the same carefully for after-guidance, “On ocean voyages, independent observations should be taken by the chief officer and yourself, and the separate results recorded in your private log. “You will be good enough to advise me promptly any instance of drunkenness on the part of any of your officers, and such offender will be instantly dismissed. “ It must also be distinctly understood that the Directors do not approve of masters or officers joining with passengers in any gambling games on board their ship.
“ Neither masters, officers, nor other employes of the Company are permitted to trade, and you will please see that this rule is strictly observed, and also check firmly anything in the shape of smuggling. “ On the completion of your round trip, you will -hand in to the office a report of the voyage, on the form supplied for that purp 'Be, making special mention of any unusual weather, or of any occurrence out of the ordinary routine. “If you have any cause of complaint against any of your officers or other employes on board, be good enough to communicate the same to the Marine Superintendent immediately on arrival, and also hand to him a note of repairs you deem necessary to hull, spars, rigging, &0., and a list of deck stores required for next voyage. “These directions are placed before you for your guidance, and you will exercise what further precautions your experience aud judgment may suggest. The Directors depend upon your unceasing care aud attention towards the safety of ship and cargo, and the maintenance of proper discipline and goodfeeling among those on board.’’ LATER TELEGRAMS. Dunedin, May 12 to 17. All the seamen declare everything possible done by the second mate with a view to saving life. Denz wound up his evidence emphatically thus, “If ail the steamers in England had been there they could not have saved a soul from the Tararua after 12 o’clock. ” At a meeting of the Tararua Relief Eund Committee, which was held to-day, the following resolutions were come to : —“ That the committee has to report that the only cases brought under their notice have been one from Oamaru, one from Port Chalmers, one from Wellington, one from Auckland, and one from Dunedin, the latter of which has been relieved, and the party has gone Home. From this it would appear that there is no distress to warrant the getting up of a general fund, and that all the cases are such as can best be met by the local charities. Shou’d any further cases come to light, they will be considered at a meeting to be held in about a week.” The Government intend at once to commence diving operations at the wreck tor the old silver. The Daily Times correspondent telegraphed from Wyndham on the 13th that six bodies were found on the beach that morning—John Barry, Roderick Walsh and W. R. Wilson being identified by papers found on their bodies. That of John Barry waa recognised by a pocket-bonk, containing a bank draft for £BO. On the body having on the remains of blue serge trousers, and vest with buttons of tin Union Steam Shipping Company, was an open-faced gold watch, and an old locket with two hands clasped, and underneath the words “Yours, for ever ” —supposed to be that of the chief engineer, Alexander Munro. No papers were found on either of the other bodies, nor anything which could lead to their identification. These make a total of sixty-four bodies recovered up to date. The friends of the late Captain Garrard intend to have the body eShumed and taken to Christchurch for burial. Should the body of Mr. Ramsay be recovered it will also be removed by his friends. The roads here are cutting up very rapidly, making the journey to and from the beach in the same day a matter of great difficulty. The volunteers from Invercargill who went to Waipapa to aid in the recovery of the dead bodies on the Tararua, give a graphic account of the hardships and work there. The police bad to sleep in web clothes for days, and had to run about in bags whilst their clothes were drying. The odor from the dead bodies sweltering in the sun was perceptible a quarter of a mile off. They also make serious complaints against Mr. Stewart, the representative of the Hnion Company at the wreck, cn account of the stinginess and general disposition to make things uncomfortable all round. One body was recovered on the ISth, having the name Jof Bell written upon the shirt. The diamond [ring found upon one of the female bodies recovered early in the week has been identified by a female friend as having belonged to the late Mrs. Campbell. Southern papers notice a number of escapes from almost certain death through persons changing their mind before the steamer started from Port Chalmers. The name of Mr. 0. Hughes, butcher, late of Oamaru, and his wife, have been mentioned amongst those who were probable passengers by the Tararua. Mr. O. 0. Armstrong informs the Daily Times that Mr. Hughes had intended taking his departure iu the Tararua, but was advised to go to Sydney via the Northern ports, and left by the Eotomahana the day before the Tararua sailed on her final voyage. A commercial traveller who was proceeding to Melbourne was in doubt whether he should take the steamer at Port Chalmers or at the Bluff. His son, aged 16, mindful of the parent’s comfort, prepared everything for him to leave early in the morning by train for the last-named port, and he has now the satisfaction of knowing that his father is alive and well.
An Invercargill photographer has visited the scene of the wreck, and has not only photographed the place and the rescued, but also the dead. Some of the pictures are raid to present a most revolting appearance. The folly of carrying large sums of money in place of bank drafts is pointed out by a correspondent of the Lyttelton Times. A number of those who were lost took coin with them, which would have been lost even had they escaped with their lives. There is not the slightest chance of the money that was so lost being recovered, and many a widow and orphan will feel the want of it.
The following insurance companies have naid the amount of their policies on the Tararua ;—Colonial, £3500 ; New South Walts Marine, £3OO ; United of Sydney, £SOO.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6272, 19 May 1881, Page 6
Word Count
21,374S. S. TARARUA. New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 6272, 19 May 1881, Page 6
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