THE LOST OMAKA

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10816, 4 February 1921, Page 6

THE LOST OMAKA

FRUITLESS SEARCH FOR BODIES OF CREW. QUANTITY OF GEAR RECOVERED. Although the police continued their fljuest yesterday' for the bodies of the four missing members of the crew of the lost auxiliary schooner Omaka, no trace of them was discovered. The search will he continued to-day. Mr C. E. Eckford, of Blenheim, one of the owners of the Omaka, left town at 1.10 p.m. yesterday in Eckford And Co.’s small steamer Wairau for Hinds Point, near* the heads, to examine the vicinity where the .sailer washed ashore and broke up, with a view to recovering any salvage that was available. Fine weather favoured the examination. 1 The Wairau returned to the Queen’s wharf at 5.15 p.m. yesterday and brought back the wrecked Onfaka’s foremast, foreboo in, tnainboam, ana bowsprit—all that could he recovered. The mast alone is valued at about £BO. “A SPLENDID GREW.” In conversation with a “.-New Zealand Times” representative, Mr Eckford expressed his utmost sympathy for th© relatives of those who had. lost their lives in the unfortunate mishap He paid an earnest tribute to tne capability and zeal of the late Captain Purvis, and mourned his loss as that of a personal friend, He 'added! that the schooner had a splendid crew of men who were thoroujddy competent. Although his father, the late Captain Thomas Eckford, and the members o> his family who had carried on his shipping business after his death, had "been running iboata for many years between Blenheim and Wellington in all weathers, this was the first occasion that a life had been lost .from any of their vessels. ESTIMATE OF LOSS. Mr Eckford estimated that the Omaka, equipped and altered as she had been lately, was worth £SOOO, and this had nob been covered by one penny of insurance. The vessel was fitted with a Hercules oil engine for auxiliary propulsion. Sho had a benzine motor-winch and a benzine motor for driving her electric dynamo for lighting. A little while ago Mr Eckford had gas-tight bulkheads fitted below'for the safe carriage of benzine cargo, at a cost of £7OO. In every way the Omaka was a most up-to-date little craft. . . TANGLE OF ROPES AND SAILS. Yesterday a boat was lowered from the Wairau at Hind’s Point, and an investigation was made of the place where the spars were afloat, but held by strong stays, etc. About Bft of water was found over the spot, but all that was visible TbeloW was a tangle of rope? and sails. A search was continued in an endeavour to locate the vessel’s engine?, but nothing at all could be seen although the water was smooth and clear to a considerable depth. Ev idently the Omaka had’broken up and the engines had gone to the bottom at a great depth. Mr Eckford was therefore satisfied that now, having recovered both masts, the booms ana bowsprit, there was nothing more to he got from the wreck, so he has now abandoned any intention to make further salvage attempts. Mr Eckford will return to his home at Blenheim by the Wairau to-day. INQUIRY TO BE HELD. The papers in connection with the loss of the Omaka were placed before the Minister for Marine yesterday, and he ordered that a Magisterial Inquiry be held as soon as possible. The appointment of nautical assessors to act with the magistrate will be made immediately.