THE MAITAI

Otago Witness, Issue 3278, 10 January 1917, Page 25

THE MAITAI

PASSENGERS ARRIVE AT AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, January 3. Early this morning the passengers and sonic of rho crew from tlic Maitai ai\ivc-d ai Auckland from ltarotonga. The tide was evidently fairly high when the Maitai drifted ashore. iiic sea about the vessel is studded with dangerous rocks, which have been the scene of previous marine disasters. The captain and officers are of opinion that there is no hope whatever of floating the Maitai, the position occupied by the hull making it evident that it will break up, the reefs on which the vessel is stranded sealing the fate of any vessel so firmly held. Ihc narrow arms of the rock reach to within a few feet of the surface, and suddenly fall to a depth of 20ft. The captain of the rescuing steamer states that he was unable to find room for the Maitai's passengers and crew as ordinary passengers, but he took them as ''people in distress,'' on condition that they provided their own bedding, etc. They were mostly accommodated on the deck on tho voyage to Auckland.

A passenger on the Maitai supplied the following story:—

"It was Christmas Day. We arrived at Rarongonta about 4 in the afternoon. In the evening we steamed to the anchorage. Many of the passengers went ashore in lighters to spend a few hours sightseeing. The crew were engaged picking up an anchor which the Maitai lost there on a previous trip, it was later noticed that the vessel was drifting. About 9.20 p.m. all on board felt a tremor run through the ship, and almost immediately after three or four shocks were felt. The mate ran to the bridge, and the ship's telegraph sent out the message '.Full speed astern,' but all efforts to move her were of no avail. She had evidently drifted at a good speed, and was fast on the rocks. She had been caught amidships on the reef. Tile lead was cast, and 42 fathoms were shown.

" Realising that the steamer was in a dangerous position, arrangements were immediately made for taking the passengers ashore. 'ihis work was particularly hard, us the swell was heavy, and the surf breaking. The war mails were taken off. The surf increased in force, and the heavy swell made the steamer roll heavily, hampering the work of the crew. Each Time the steamer rolled on the port side the sea thrashed itself against the- vessel, and the task of working the mails and landing the passengers was particularly difficult. All night long tho men worked, until about 1 a.m. next day, when tho rising water in the hold forced the firemen to quit. Lighters were then used to carry the ship's stores ashore. Attempts at refloating were abandoned, as the steamer gradually worked her way further on to the reef.

"Early next morning natives were obtained from the shore, a: ,1 the work of removing tho ship's fittings and cargo was commenced. This work was slow, owing to there being no steam in the winches. At o o'clock in the- afternoon of Boxing Day there was 15ft of water in No. 3 hold, but most of the cargo had been removed before tho water gained any ground. Shortly after this the ship's company were taken ashore, and most of the work was left to the natives."