WRECK OF THE WAIKARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 88

WRECK OF THE WAIKARE.

■RETURN OF SALVAGE PARTY. Mr A. M'lntyre (superintendent of repairs for the Union Steam Ship Coiriipainy) returned to Dunedinon/Tuesday evening from the scene of the "wreck of the Wai-, kare at Stop Island, VVest Coast Sounds, where he'haa been for the last 10 days in charge of a salvage party of seven. He reports that the steamer's position has altered Aery little, and "that she is lirmly fixed on the recks. Since the crew and passengers' left ihe W'aikare has sunk down bodily about 4ft/ and now lies with only a small part .of/the forecastle and upper deck forward of the bridge showing at high wafer. There is not the slightest hope of refloating the ill-fated steamer, which is now apparently held fast on the rocks, some o! which, it is thought, have pierced her hull. Considerable difficulty was experienced by the party in salvaging anything irom the interior of the steamer, and operations had to bo confined to the periods of low water. The property salvaged 'is principally fittings of the vessel, a.nd a' few articles belonging to passengers. After a good deal of trouble the ship's bell was hauled up from a depth of 6ft of ; water. The salvage party, while on the island, had a rough camp, rain falling almost incessantly. Sandflies and blowflies were very troublesome, and the screeching of old and young mutton-birds and the weird calls of the wekas assisted io make sleep very difficult. All the food left by the "passengers and crew on the island was fly-blown, and the ground was literally alive with the fly-blows. The flies were very troublesome during the day, and at night, wherever a light was exhibited, they surrounded it in myriads. To abate the nuisance tihe party poured kerosene over the worst-affected parts of the ground and set fire to it, thus destroying myriads of the flies and their larvas. As ta. projection against sandfly bites, tobacco juice was rubbed over the hands and exposed surfaces of the body.