TONGARIRO STRIKES ROCK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3260, 6 September 1916, Page 25

TONGARIRO STRIKES ROCK.

VESSEL ABANDONED. GISBORNE, August 30. Tho New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Tongariro has struck on Bell Rock, Portland Island, midway between Gisborne and Napier, and near Mania Peninsula. Bell Rock is four miles N.N.E. of Portland. Island, and about four miles from tho shore. Tho Tongariro was en route from Auckland to Wellington, Auckland having been her first port of call in New Zealand. The vessel passed East Capo, going south, at 10.20 this morning, and would be ofi Portland Island between 7 and 8 p.m. The lirst distress wireless call was picked up by tlie Westralia in the Gisborne roadstead shortly before 8 o'clock, and the messages continued until 8.10 p.m., when the following came through: "Power failing." Five minutes later another stated: "Not off yet'; but after that the messages ceased. The Tongariro'a commander—Captain Makepeace—was in command of the Kaipara when she was blown up by the Germans. Tho officers arc:—Chief, Mr P. J. Ballard; second, Mr J. B. Davis; third, Mr J. Schofield; fourth, Mr A. J. Angell; surgeon, Dr O'Callaghan; chief engineer, Mr P. Woodall; second, Mr Pasgate; third, Mr P. Kitchen; fourth, Mr J. Anderson; fifth, Mr J. Snoll; sixth, Mr S. Morrison; chief refrigerator. Mr 11. O. Holford; second, Mr R. Brown; chief steward, Mr R. T T Whitakcr. 1 ; .i) Toi ■..-<■ had tho following cargo on board:- 3800 ton* for Wellington, 2400

tons for Lyttelton, and 1500 tons for Dunedin. August 31. It is feared that the Tongariro may slip off the rook and become a total loss. The Koutunui must have been in the locality at the time of the mishap. The weather was fine and the sea calm, The Koutunui, when seen by the Arahura, had two empty lifeboats in tow. DANGEROUS POSITION^ EXPOSURE TO ELEMENTS. GISBORNE, August 31. Advice received from tho manager of the Now Zealand Shipping Company this afternoon states that the vessel has not sunk. She is lying about two miles east from Bull Rock, and appears to be in a very dangerous position, lying to the open sea and exposed to the north-east winds, Iho Koutunui is still standing by, and another small vessel, the Tu Atu, is approaching. RESCUE OF THE CREW. NAPIER, August 31. The "iS.O.S." call was responded to by the Westralia at Gisborne, and by the Arahura at Napier. Both vessels left immediately for the scene. The Westralia arrived fust. She found all the members of the crow on tho Koutunui, a Richardson Company coaster. The Westralia took 78 on board for Napier. The captain, tho first officer, the second officer, the first, second, and third engineers,' and six members of the crew stood by for examination of the position by daylight. When tho Westralia left the Tongariro she was still afloat, her bow being supported by Bull Rock. Water was in all the holds and the engine room, and the vessel had a heavy list to port, with 26 fathoms of water under her stern. The seas were breaking over tho bow. It is expected that tho vessel will slip off and sink. Thero was no panic. Only the boats on the port side could be used. One was smashed and her five men thrown into the sea. Another was capsized through a davit breaking, but her occupants wero all rescued. The shock was very severe; it brought the vessel to a dead stop with a terrific noise. Tho scone of the wreck is 5g miles N.N.E. of Portland Light. Some of the men received minor injuries, but there were no serious casualties. A member of the crew said that the captain was on tho bridge at the time. The crow were in the boats for three hours, and they returned to the vessel three times in case anyone was loft behind. It is stated that tho cargo totals 8000 tons, and includes £150.000 in bullion. Salvage operations can be successfully conducted, even if the vessel sinks The Westralia, which rushed to tho scene of the wreck from Gisborne, arrived at Napier at 7 a.m. to-day, bringing the Tongariro's third officer and all (78) of the crew, including the stewardess, who was the only woman on board. The Westralia left the Tongariro at 1.30 this morning. Her decks were then above the water. The crow got a.way with only what they r,tood up in. No one was drowned. Captain Makepeace, the first officer (Air P. J. Ballard), and the second officer (Mr J. B. Davis) are standing by the vessel. Nine men are stopping at the scene of the disaster. Many of the crew wero in their night clothes, and they had no time to get their effects owing to the suddenness of the alarm. Somo American negroes lost their heads, and one had to be stunned to be kept quiet. Somo of the crew were immersed for a long time in the water owing to She boats upsetting. In Napier they were supplied \vith boots, clothing, and comforts. If the sea had been heavy all those on board would have boon lost. The vessel is almost certain to be a total loss\ The Koutonui arrived at Napier about ;0.30 p.m. with £25,000 worth of bullion in boxes, and the passengers' and crew's effects from the wreck. Tho Tu Atu got right alongside, as the weather was calm, and salvaged the effects. There is a lot of valuable cargo on board, and some of it may be salved if fine weather keeps up. The vessel is unlikely to break up unless there is an easterly or north-easterly gale. The To Aroha is leaving Wairoa to bo on the scene. VESSEL ABANDONED. FAST ON THE ROCKS. WELLINGTON, August 31. A message telephoned from Gisborne reports that the Tongariro is abandoned, and that the Westralia is taking the crew to Napier. Tho Koutunui is standing by. Nos. 1 2, and 3 holds and the engine room are flooded. Tho steamer is fast on the rocks forward, with 25 fathoms of water aft. The Koutunui has the captain, officers, and six men on board. IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE VESSEL. NAPIER, September 4. Reliable advice lias reached Napier concerning tho position of the Tongariro. Cargo can be salved at low tide, but at high tide occasionally a heavy swell prevents operations for a few hours. The wind has been from tho north quarter since tho wreck, and has prevented tho vessel from breaking up. A fair amount of cargo has been removed. Another big crack has appeared in the vessel, and the salvage of the hull is hopeless. Captain Plunkett (Lloyd's surveyor) inspected the wreck to-day. CARGO FOR LYTTELTON. CHRISTCIICRCH, August 31. The Tongariro's cargo for Lyttelton <ndudea ttationery ; periodicals, large quantities of rubber and motor goods, paint, pig iron, iron bolts, bars, nuts, hardware, pianos, sends, manure, cotton goods, machinery, essences, oil, wirie, woollen goods, bottles, glassware, chemical*, drug.-), bicycles and parts, wearing apparel, boots, shoes, agricultural machinery, cbosplate, 643 reels of news printing paper, and other paper. THE DUNEDIN CARGO. Tho Tongariro had on board closo on 1500 tons of general cargo for Dunedin. This total comprised a wide variety of articles consigned to a great number of local firms and agents. A detailed list cannot be given,

but the principal items include 3000 bags of salt for Nathan end Co, a large shipment of toys and fancy goods, etc., for Whitcombe and Tombs, 150 packages of drapery for Bing, Harris, and Co., 134 for for Buttcrworth Bros., 61 for Brown, Ewing, and Co., 69 for the D.S.A., 39 for A. and T, Inglis, 117 for Ross and Glendining, 48 for the D.1.C.; and 42 for Hallcnstem Bros. These consignments include great quantities of now season's drapery and millinery. Tho Tongariro also had £II,OOO worth of silver and bronze coin to bo landed at Dunedin for distribution among tho various dominion banks. Several softgoods firms who lost cargo in tho Rangatira had their repeated orders on the Tongariro, and thus suffer doublo loss by delay. An estimate by a gentleman connected with a local insuranco office of the value of the hull and cargo and the ship at the time of her striking is £400,000. It may bo of interest to recall the fact that tho Tongariro has been twice in collision. In 1908 she collided with a vessel called the Drumlourig in tho English Clranncll, near the Coodwin Sands, and again in 1911 she struck a wharf heavily in the Thames, London. The Tongariuo last visited this port on March 3 of this year. SALVAGE WORK SUSPENDED. NAPIER, September 1. The small steamships Weka, Ahuriri, Fanny, Koutunui, and Tu Atu are engaged in lightering operations at the scene of the wreck of tho Tongariro. The To Aroha arrived at 11 p.m. from tho wreck, bringing the petty officers and somo of the crow. The captain, chief officer, and chief engineer remain on the scene. A member of the crew states that the vessel was travelling at 12 knots when she struck between three rocks. Sho is now sinking slowly, and as the sea is rising she i> expected to break up or slip off by the end of tho week. A big split right down from the bow las increased, and the water is now over the starboard side. L : ghtcring operations have ceased owing to the rough sea. I he engine room and somo of the holds are flooded. No cargo can be salvaged, and it would be useless in any case. Vessels are still standing by. NAPIER, September 2. It is stated that the chances of the salvage of that portion of the cargo above water on the Tongariro are good should tho weather remain calm. The Koutunui is at present at the scene of tho wreck, and the Te Aroha leaves for thero tonight, taking winches and the necessary equipment. The trouble is that all the cargo will have to be taken off by surf boats, as tho coastal vessels cannot be taken alongside with safety. WELLINGTON, September 1. The secretarv of the Post Office has received a telegram from the postmaster at Wairoa to tho effect that Mr Ormond, of Mahia, reports that tho Tongariro is high and dry on Bull Rock at low water, and that several small steamers are working at her. , , __ ~ . . The local manager of the Now Zealand Shipping Company was advised to-n:ght that the salvage of the cargo presents grave difficulty. Owing to the fact that no steamer can get alongside all the goods must be moved by hand and transferred to surf boats. No power is available on the ship. Fifty-one packages of bullion wero saved, also somo live stock, consisting of a bitch and five pups consigned to Wellington, and a crate of canaries for Lyttelton. A peculiar position has arisen affecting tho crew owing to the fact that the vessel's articles are still on board. Most of the crew are in Wellington, and want to go to new jobs, but they cannot on another ship till they sign off. Tho Tongariro's articles are expected here by next * UCSdUy sOME CARGO LANDED. Mr Galbraith, Dunedin manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, is advised that two freights of cargo, each of about 100 tons, reached Napier on Sunday, and that another shipment of 150 tons was to arrive at Napier on Monday. All the stuff saved is in good order. Most of it is for Lyttelton, and thero is also some for Dunedin, but no particulars aro yet available. Tho weather was fine yesterday. HOW TRADES ARE AFFECTED. Inquiry among wholesale and retail business firms showed that the Wellington soft goods and hardware houses have been hard hit by the Tongariro disaster (says the Wellington Post). A large quantity of the cargo was made up of "repeat" orders made necessary by the loss of the Rangatira, near Capetown, a few months ago. The hardware firms have also V.-.t much valuable cargo. "We have been badly hit,'' said one merchant, "and this has come at a very awkward time, as it is lot easy to get hardware at Homo now that the British Government has prohibited the export of several lines, and I doubt if we.can get some of these again.'* This firm has a eood deal of raw material on the Tongariro, but the loss would be a quantity of sheet glass, which was stated to be very scarce at present. As an illustration of the extent to which business houses in Oamaru have been affected by the loss of the Tongariro, the following quantities of commodities consigned locally (says tho Mail) are interesting:—9 bales of drapery, 3 bales of cotton goods, 18 rolls of motor covers, 1 case of motor tubes, 3 eases of varnish, 2 casks of dry colour, 2 bales of carpets. 2 cases of bebts and shoes, 2 cases of bolts and nuts, 5 cases of creosote, 52 cases of cartridges, 1 case of rubber hoso. 1 case of mops._ and 13 packages of miscellaneous merchandise. 'lho Tongariro is a steel twin-screw steamer of 8073 tons, and was built in 1901 by Messrs Hawthorn, Leslie, and Co., Newcastle. She is 457 feet in length. Tho secretary of the Shipwreck Relief Society (Mr E. S._ Wilson) telegraphed _ to the Mayor of Napier on Thursday evening asking if any relief was required for the crew of tho Tongariro. Tho following reply was received: —"We fitted them up with clothes, etc., and they left for Wellington this afternoon." On Friday the secretary to the Shipwreck "Relief Society wired to Mr G. B. Bullock, Wellington manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company:—"Mayor of Napier advises crew Tongariro aro proceeding to Wellington Kindly consult Wellington subcommittee, and advise if any relief is necessary." Mr Bullock's reply was that the sub-committee at Wellincrton recommended tho society to allow £3 for each member of the crew, with something extra for tho

officers, who had lost al! their effects. Mr Wilson is carrying out this recommendation. Several Masterton firms have goods on tho Tongariro (says the Wairarapa Times). Messrs Hugo and Shearer have over £IOOO worth of drapery on board.