THE WRECK OF THE WAIKARE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7020, 7 January 1910, Page 6

THE WRECK OF THE WAIKARE

Tho astonishment . with which tho public road of tho wreck in Dusky Sound was, happily, unattended with regret at loss of human life. Ab it turns out the incident was one of thoso in which- tragedy being averted by a hairsbreadth, comedy took tho stage. That is so far as tho passengers wero concerned only, for. to tha Union Company the loss of eo fine a stoamor is a serious .business. Having escaped participation in the dreadful drama always imminent on such occasions tho excursionists' reminiscences will be merely those of peoplo whoso merry-making ' in one way waa interrupted to undergo the experiences of well-provisioned castaways for twenty-four hours. Indeed tlieir excursion was given just that touch of unexpected novelty to make it an agreoablo memory. Yet their danger must havo been very real, and had not the utmost good order prevailed and tho situation been faced with: steady nerves it is quite possible a, dreadful calamity might nave occurred. To b& on board a rapidly sinking steamer on' winch the propelling power just lasts long enough to permit her hull toreach a friendly beacn. instead of plunging to tho bottom is by no mean* a joke or any light test of -the courage and resolution of those who hap« pen to be on board. The ship's com* pany appears to have acted with that promptitude and devotion which is almost invariably displayed in Buck a crisis. The inquiry into the cause of tho wreck will throw light upon certain phases of the occurrence just no« shrouded in doubt. If it should transpire that the place has been so imperfectly .surveyed tha* unkaowa rocka exist upon which visiting craft' anay be impaled it seems to- us thai) someone should be asked for an explanation. Tho scenic attractions of | these sounds are trumpeted far and; ! wide, and people urged to take ad- [ vantage of the opportunities afforded of visiting them. The number of I excursionists to the locality is in» ! creasing every year. Under these i cumstances we should imagine it to havo been worth while to have the i place prospected by an hydTographer and the hazard of hidden dangers eliminated from the tourist's itinerary. This wreck has ended very well for tie passengers, but there is no getting away from the fact that it was an exceedingly "near thing." .As we have the habit of rarely erecting a lighthouse until after a wreck perhaps after the inquiry somebody, will wake up to the wisdom of charting the dangers to navigation in a place

where citizens are in-o'-ted to tako retaxation.