WRECKAGE REPORTED.

Otago Witness, Issue 2363, 8 June 1899, Page 23

WRECKAGE REPORTED.

WELLINGTON, June 2.

Mr Sinclair, telephonist at Port Robinson, Cheviot, has advised the Postal department that last night a man named Welsh saw a big body of stuff drifting to the north, apparently the size of the steamer Wakatu, which trades to Kaikoura. It will, he thinks, turn out to bo the hull of a vessel. Mrs Sinclair also saw the object. The Postal department has instructed the telegraph stationmaster at Kaikoura to inform the road overseer' there of the discovery, in order that a sharp look-out may be kept for the object.

The Union Company have sent the Poherua to look for the wreckage reported as having been seen near the Kaikouras, and the Rotomahana will also go up from Lyttelton, if possible, for the same purpose.

Some wreckage, apparently portions of a small schooner, has come ashore near Island Bay. It is feared one of the coastal traders has come to grief. The police are out inspecting and searching to see if any bodies have been thrown up.

A heavy sea is running in the straits, and the thick weather is interfering with shipping again

June 4.

There is nothing to show the name of the vessel lost in the straits, and no bodies were found. The wreckage consists of a winch and part of a deck. The vessel was about 40 tons.

Neither the Flora nor the Rotomahana, which had special orders to search for the wreckage reported off Cheviot, saw anything. The Poherua, which was despatched specially on the same errand, had not returned when the telegraph office closed.

The wreckage found at Lyell Bay is kauri and pohutikawa, which leads to the supposition that the vessel that has come to grief was Auckland-built, and had not been in the water long, and from the size of the beams attached the boat was at least 80 or 90 tons.

As to floating wreckage off Cheviot, steamers report enormous masses of kelg

torn loose 'by the recent gales, and' it is believed that either one of these or a dead whale was mistaken by the discoverer for the remains of a vessel.

A BOAT WASHED ASHORE.

t GISBORNE, June 4. A large boat has been washed ashore at Tapuwai, 12 miles north of Gisborne. It has apparently been in the water a considerable time, being covered with barnacles. A steer oar lashed in position as if for use was attached to one end of the boat. The boat has apparently been painted white, but long immersion in the water has turned it to a yellowish colour. There is no name on it.

The boat found at Tapuwai bears the words "Jerfalcon, Melbourne," and evidently belongs to the schooner now at the Bluff.

Th* 1 head office of the Union Company were advised from Port Robinson on Friday that a large body of stuff was seen drifting norlhwai'd the previous evening. The wreckage, or whatever it was, was very like the hull of a vessel, and as big as the s.s. Wakatu, a small steamer engaged in the Cook Strait trade. The intelligence is, however, so vague that it does not convey much information.