WRECK OF THE MATAURA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3345, 29 January 1898, Page 3

WRECK OF THE MATAURA.

BY GABLE.

LOST NEAR THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. ONLY FIFTEEN OP THE CREW AND PASSENGERS ACCOUNTED FOR. By Telegraph.—Press Association. — Copyright. London, January 27. News has been received that the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Mataura, while on her voyage from Wellington to London, ’has been totally lost near the Strait of Magellan, South America. Of those on board, a boat-load numbering 15 is accounted for, and others have probably been saved. Received January 28, 710 p.rn. London, January 27. The .Mataura went ashore at Sealers’ Cove. The twelfth boat, containing the captain, doctor, throe passengers aud 10 of the crew arrived at Saudy Point Cape, a town on the Magellan Strait. It is believed that the remaining boats are safe. Assistance has been sent to the scene of the wreck. THE STEAMER’S LAST VOYAGE. The Matanra left here for London via Monte Video aud Teneriffe on the morning of December 21st in command of Captain C. A. Milward, K.N.K. She Jwas the latest of the New Zealand Shipping Company's fine fleet of steamers, only having been built in 1896, her first trip to Wellington being made on August 17th of that year. It will be remembered that this steamer was the one in which the New Zealand contingent returned from London to the Colonies at the termination of the Diamond Jubilee celebration. The voyage out on that occasion was a singularly unlucky one. Shortly after leaving Capetown one of the cylinder covers cracked, which necessitated a reduced rata of speed with a far larger consumption of coal, the vessel calling at Albany to replenish her bunkers. To add to this one of the ship’s crew contracted typhoid fever, measles broke out among the passengers, a child developed scarlet fever, and Mr Sutherland, chief engineer, had to relinquish his duties for a time owing to a poisoned leg. Captain Milward has, during late years, had much domestic trouble, his wife and several members of his family having been carried off by the grim destroyer. Being of a sensitive nature, his physical health suffered, so much so indeed that during his last stay in port medical assistance had to be called in. A SPLENDID SEAMAN. Captain Milward has been in the service of the Now Zealand Shipping Company for many years, having worked his way up from third officer of one. of their ■ sailing ships, and is looked upon as one of the ablest of seamen. Under Captain Crutchley he was second officer of the Kaikoura, and as such was extremely popular. This accident is the first he has had since, he has been to sea. He was born in the south of England, and ;s the son of the Rev Milward, aud brother-iu-law of Mr Barnes, of Messrs Kinsey and Barnes, Christchurch. DESCRIPTION OP THE STEAMER. Lloyd’s Register of the latest date supplies the information that the Mataura was a two-decked steamship of 3756 net and 5794 gross tons. She was constructed in 1896 by Messrs Barclay, Curie and Co., of Glasgow, and was registered A 1 at Lloyd’s. Her dimensions were i—Length, 421 ft j breadth of beam, 29ft lin; depth of hold, 56tt 6in. Her engines were on the triple expansion system, and the diameter of her cylinders 30in, 40in and 78in, with a 51in stroke. Electric light was fitted throughout the ship, which was also supplied with refrigerating machinery of the latest pattern. THE CREW. The following is a complete list of the crow of the steamer ;—Captain C. A. Milward, R.N.R.; chief officer, L. S. Silba (formerly master of the ship Waipa); second, E. J. Terry; third, B. C. DaroyMaxwell j fourth, E. C. Moore: surgeon, H. A. Page; first engineer, R. Sutherland; second, J. Thomas; fourth, N. B. Sneddon; fifth, J. Reid; first refrigerating engineer, J. W. Forrester; second, J. Scott; electrician, J. B. Leech (son of the exharbourmaster at Westport) ; chief steward, F. Adcock; chief cook, John Hure; boatswain, W. Green, Able seamen —J. Wartj?, J. J. Smith, E. O. Ball, M. Jensin, J. King, R. Smith, A. Calves, J. McGilligau, J. Baxter, W. Cassidy, J. Brown, F. Jeffries. Greasers, trimmers/ &c.—R. Johnston, P- O'MMU, 0.-Fianagau, J. oraac.v, Duncan, R. Armitage, E. Dowban, W. Mathie, M. Diamond, G. Pilbeam, T. J. Scotland, G. Peterson, J. Chappie, J. Willoughby, M. Grave, H. Martin, J. Dillon, J, N. Smith, M. Fraser, J. Cody, H. Gidles; carpenter, J. Mathieson; stewards, pantrymen, cooks, &0., J. Wily, R. Jardine, S. Nethertcn, A. J. Thomas, W. Hemmeny, H. Redmnn;’?. Donovan, J. Wolfe, G. Rennie, G. THE PASSENGERS. The only passengers by the Matanra were Mrs A. J. Park, Miss Kate Paik and Mr Thomas Mill, all booked from Dunedin. Mrs Park is sister-in-law of the captain. Mr Mills is a son of the well-known stevedore at Port Chalmers. They are all saved, and no d°nbt by this time have been forwarded to Monte Video, ‘ INSURANCES. As far as we are able to ascertain the following are the insurances on the big lines included in the Mataura’s cargo:—18,000 bales wool, insured for .£200,000; 1200 casks tallow, for £6000; 80,000 paroaags mutton, for .£22,000; making a tqtqJ of £228,000. Of this £he Thames and Mersey Company are responsible for £BOOO. and the Commercial Union, £32,000; while the New Zealand Insurance Company’s line amounts to £33,000, very largely re-insured, and that of the Canton Company to £IO4O. Many other offices are involved, but the individual amounts are not known. THBOAEGO. The ill-fated steamer’s cargo is valued at about £300,000, the wool on board alone being estimated at £350,000 worth, besides frozen ■ meat, tallow, pelts, dairy produce, &o. The following is almost the complete list, with the shippers’ names From Wellington New Zealand Shipping Company ,- 248 bales, Messrs W. M. Bannatyne and Co.; 94 bales, Messrs H. B. McDonald and Co.; 83 bales, Messrs J. Nathan and Co.; 140 bales, Messrs Aitken, Wilson and Co.; 408 bales, Messrs Johnston and Co. ; 2885 bales. Bank of New Zealand; 175 bales. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company; 3 bales, Messrs W. and G. Turnbull and Co. ; 572 bales. United Farmers’ Co-operative Association ; 31 bales, Wairarapa Farmers’ Association. Frozen moat 1 3000 carcases mutton, Wei* lington Meat Export Company ; 148 carcases lamb, Wellington Meat Export Company ; 80 carcases lamb, New '•Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company. Dairy produce ; 528 cases cheese. National Dairy Association; IQO oases cheese. Bank of New Zealand. . From Wanganui—Wool : 1981 bales. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company; 393 bales, Messrs Johnston aud Co.; 193 bales, Mr Murgatroyd. , From Waitara—l2o oases cheese, Awatuna Dairy Factory. From Napier—Wool 1 1067 .bales. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company ; 1273 bales, Hawke’s Bay Farmers Co-operative Association; 888 bales, Mr G. E. G. Richardson ; 1587 bales, Messrs Johnston and Co.; 253 bales, Messrs Ellison and Duncan; H bales, -Messrs Wenley and 'Lanauze ;718 bales, Mr G. Kettlewell; 926 bales, Mr Walter Hill; 9 bales, Messrs Barraud and Abrahaih ; 13 bales. Bank of New Zealand; 28 talcs, Messrs Bowron and Butcher; 36 bales, Messrs Bowron Bros. Prom Lyttelton—632 oases cheese, Mr J. B. MoEwen. From Dunedin—Wool: 70 bales, Mr F. Kettle. Frozen meat: 5717 carcases mutton, 34 carcases lamb, MoKinnon-Ha zlitt Refrigerating Company. Cheese ; 311 cases, Dairy Association; 406 cases, Mr J. B. MoEwen; 131 cases, Mr J. R. Scott; 349 cases. New Zealand and Australian Land Company; 187 oases, Messrs Tothill, Watson and Co; 16 coses, Mr W. R. Cameron. Butter: 308 packages, Mr W. R. Cameron ; 058 packages, Mr J. R. Scott; 109 packages, MoKinnon-Hazlitt Company, From Patea—B3 bales wool and 8 casks tallow, Messrs Murgatroyd Bros.; 10 casks tallow, Mr O. W. Oldham. From Nelson—326 bales wool, the chief portion of which was shipped by Messrs Sdanders and Co. From Blenheim—26 bales wool. Bank of New Zealand; 105 bales wool, Mr W. E. (Houston. From Bluff—3Bo bales wool. Bank of New Zealand; 100 bales wool, Messrs Tothill, Watson and Co.; 79 bales wool. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company; 50oases tallow,Wolf. Sayerand Co.; 4464 carcases mutton; 63 carcases lamb, 2‘09 oases rabbits. THE STRAITS OF MAGELLAN. - The navigation of this passage has always been regarded as being attended with considerable risk, although many shipmasters make it a general pr.tci-ioa of saving possibly a day's steaming by relying on their skill as seamen and navigators to overcome the nautical difficulties to be surmounted. Captain Greenstreet, of the New Zealand Shipping Company’s steamer Rimutaka, )

BY CABLE.

always chooses this route, and has become so familiar with the locality that it is said ho could find a way in and out in the dark. Captain Bone has also taken the Kuahioo through on a couple of occasions, and we believe that on the last trip Homo Captain Milward, in the Mataura, threaded the narrow way successfully. The Pacific Company’s vessels which trade to the western coast of America regularly adopt the maritime short out, and have within the last few years lost two of their vessels, one of them, the Cotopaxi, becoming a total wreck in live minutes. -At one time shippers had to pay extra insurance rates on cargo going through the Straits, but they are now precisely the same as those on cargo going round the Horn.

The magnificent scenery of tho Straits makes the passage one of the greatest interest to travellers, hence many of the latter travel by vessels taking this course. The proximity of tho land on both sides—the breadth varying from 12 to 17 miles—gives facilities for an uninterrupted view of tho glaciers on either side. These are always of a bluoish colour, arising from the large deposits of ice, and in this respect they differ from those in Switzerland, which are always covered with snow. The run through, a distance of about 350 miles, is sometimes accomplished in about 24 hours if favourable conditions are met with, but ths weather changes with startling rapidity from one extreme to another, bright sunshine prevailing at one minute and a thick snowstorm obscuring sea and land the next. Tho tide runs through with extreme rapidity, and as there are only two anchorages, the utmost vigilance has to be observed by seafaring men. The Straits were explored and surveyed by King and Pxtzroy in the Adventure and Beagle fully 60 years ago, and Cunningham and Miller have at later times prepared fairly comprehensive accounts of the place.