FULL PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1795, 17 April 1886, Page 10

FULL PARTICULARS OF THE DISASTER.

Considerable excitement was created in town on Monday when it became known that the Union Company's steamer Taiaroa had been wrecked on the voyage from Wellington to Lyttelton. The first news was received by the Union Company about 9.30, and was published by us as an extra. It was from their Blenheim office, advising that news had reached there that the Taiaroa, which left Wellington at noon on Sunday, was ashore one mile north of the Clarence River, and that two of the passengers were saved. From time to time during the day extras were published in town, which kept the public informed of all the intelligence obtainable, and these were eagerly awaited. When the news came that the captain's boat, which had drifted away from the others, had landed at Wairau, it was thought* in view of only three bodies having been washed ashore, that perhaps more of the passengers and crew had escaped. This view was supported somewhat by the statement given in one telegram that one boat with females on board was still missing, and as the captain's boat had no females on board it was generally thought that another boat was still unaccounted for. This, however, turn ed out not to be the case, as three of the boats were capsized ; and out of those on board, only three reached the shore — namely, Sergeant Grant (of the Armed Constabulary), Constable Quartier, and one of tho passengers named Gilbert Hutton. These three, with those saved in the captain's boat, will prove, it is to be feared, the only survivors of the sad catastrophe. During the day anxious inquiries by friends and relatives of those on board were made, but the out-of-the-way place in which the wreck occurred rendered it impossible to obtain accurate information.

The place where the disaster occurred, Waipapa Point, is a bold head on the north side of the Clarence River. It is about 18 miles from Flaxbourne, and between these two points the hills recede somewhat and the beach is backed by sand dunes. Kekerangu, which is about nine miles north of Waipapa, was at one time a whaling station, but it has always been difficult to effect a landing there except in the calmest weather. The following sketch map will give an accurate idea of the scene of the wreck : —

The Union Company, with commendable promptitude, took steps to at once send relief to the scene of the wreck. Orders were sent to Wellington to despatch the Penguin to the scene, and to Lyttelton to send on the Wanaka there at once. The Blenheim manager of the Company was also requested to proceed overland to the scene, which is some 70 miles distant from Wellington. THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD. The passengers known to have been on board are as follow:Mrs Fitzgerald, wife^f Mr G. G. Fitzgerald, editor of the Timaru Herald. Jttr R. H. Vallance, the weU-known racing m Mr Ward, torpedo instructor, on his way to Oamaru in connection with the Easter review there. Messrs Erskine and Graham, of Wellington. Mr Murray, from Nelson. Mrs Anderson. Mr Galbraith (patent agent). Mr James Ferguson, of Taranaki. STEERAGE. Constable M'Quartier. Sergeant Grant. Mr Anderson. - --.SJKJrssrgSw. The following list of the officers and crew on board was supplied by the Union Company: — George Thompson, master. R. B. Monkman, first officer. James Pursell, second officer. R. Spooner, purser. James West, carpenter. D. Hill, lamp-trimmer. John Jones, A.B. R. Williamson, A.B. P. M'Millan, A.B. James M'Gonagle, A.B. John M'Kay, A.B. Peter Hansen, A.B.

W. Quin, boy. T. Dalrymple, chief engineer E. T. Stratford, second engineer, W. Cain, donkeyman. G. M'Donough, fireman. R. Irvine, fireman. R. Morrison, trimmer. R. William, trimmer. J. Fielder, chief steward. G. Whybrow, bedroom steward. D. Campbell, pantryman. T. Delaney, fore-cabin 6teward, R. Bathgate, meßsroom steward. Mrs M. A. Brown, stewardews. F. Gallichan, chief cook. W. Kellin, second cook. J. M'Phee (married), lamp- trimmer. In the extras published the list of tho crew was incorrect, as just before leaving on her last trip several changes were made. The seaman J. Jones was left behind on accouut of illness, and John Hunter, a trimmer, was also left behind. Jones' place was filled by John M'Fie, and Hunter's by Robert Morrison. Munro, the bedroom steward, was also left behind, and is now employed on board the s.k. Manapouri. The second officer is Mr James Pursell, not Parnell ; and the stewardess, Mrs Brown, is well known to those who travel between Dunedih and bamarvl, having been for a considerable titne on board the 8.8.. Beautiful Star. We are informed that John M'Fie is married, and has one child. His wife resides in Dunedin. The lamp-trimmer, W. Hill, is inarried,4fc but has no family. His wife resides in Dunedin. The seamen Williamson, M'Millan, M'Gonagle, M'Kay, and Hanson are all unmarried. W. Cain, the donkey driver, is married and has a family in Dunedin. Morrison, one of the firemen, is also married, with a family in Dunedin. Mr Fielder, the chief steward, is also a married man ; and so far as we can ascertain, the remainder of the crew are unmarried. Robert Morrison, who took Hunter's (the trimmer) place, is also said to be a married man, without family. The following telegrams received by us give all the particulars obtainable : —