WRECK OF THE TAINUI

Otago Witness, Issue 3419, 26 September 1919, Page 44

WRECK OF THE TAINUI

REMAINS OF THE VESSEL

CHRISTCHURCH, September 18

All that remains of the Tainui is a mass of twisted iron and piping and a few feet of timber at the stern and nose. What is left of the vessel lies in an almost maceessible part of the coast line, about nine miles from Cheviot. Even after three full tide had broken over the wreck there still remained yesterday smouldering embers of the fire which had been raging so furiously. The Refrigerating Company will probably abandon the Tainui to the underwriters owing to the inaccessibility of the position of the wreck. If it were possible to remove the refrigerating plant to the railway it is estimated that it alone would be worth about £2OO. , , Only about 30 intact cases of benzine have been found up to the present on either side of the wreck. Hundreds of empty tins, blown into all shapes by the explosion, are littered on the beach. Amongst tho cargo there were several ploughs, but all hope of salving these has been abandoned. Tho forward part of tho Tainui from tho bridge to bow was burnt out right down to tho keel, only twisted ironwork and battered tins remaining on this portion of the vessel. Tho funnel wa» completely broken away, and lay towards a. cliff overshadowing the wreck. The aft water tank and the engine room machinery appear to be intact, but above what had been the engine room the ironwork was twisted and dented almost out of recognition. Not a blade remained on the propeller, due probably to the vessel bumping on the reefs. The opinion is expressed that if it had been possible for tho Tainui's crew to have stood the heat and remained on the vessel instead of taking to the lifeboat they would have stood a better chance of saving' their lives. One early eye-witness of the wreck after it had drifted to the shore says it was not then burning aft.- : There is no direct evidence to show whether the explosion of benzine was tho result of a fire on the ship or if tho fire was caused by the explosion. When tho only survivor was awakened as the result of the explosion the fire was then belching from one of the fore hatch covers. It was noticed in daylight, however, that one of the victims was scorched about the face and head.

COMPLAINT BY SEAMEN'S UNION. WELLINGTON, September 18.

At the annual meeting of the National Council of the Federated Seamen's Union, now being held, the disaster to the Tainui and her enow was considered. The members stood and in silence passed the following resolution: —"'That the National Council of the Federated Seamen's Union, now in annual meeting, respectfully tender to the relatives and friends of the crew of the steamer Tainui the sincere sympathy and condolence of the organised seamen of New Zealand in the gVcat loss they have sustained in the disaster, and the council express their great abhorrence at the laxity of the proper authorities in permitting ships with benzine cargo to put to eea -without being properly equipped for the carriage of the cargo in question. Further, the council is of opinion that seamen, should refuse to proceed to sea in any ship with benzine cargo unless the holds of the ship are so constructed as to prevent benzine fumes penetrating to any other part of the vessel beyond the holds." The general secretary of the union (Mr W. T. Young), in a statement to the press, said that if those in power for the moment will not act to preserve life and limb, other means will nave to bo taken by the men.