THE KARU FOUNDERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 36

THE KARU FOUNDERS.

OFF CAPE IHARIA VAN DIEMEN TEN MEN REACH SHORE. AUCKLAND. March 1. It was reported from Te Paki station that this morning a wreck resulting in the loss of life had occurred a few miles from Cape Maria Van Dieman. when the schooner-rigged steamer Kata, a vessel of 267 tons register, foundered after springing a leak. So suddenly did she sink that there was only time to launch one boat, and this was smashed in the breakers. The message stateJ that only one member of the crew had succeeded in reaching the shore. A telephone communication from Kaitaia which was received to-night, however, shows that the wreck was not attended by so much loss of life as was at first reared. The first messages containing the news of the disaster sent out from this Isolated region at the extreme north of New Zealand, gave the information that only one man out of a-crew of 12 was known to have got ashore. It is now certain that the captain, the chief engineer, and .eight members of the crew are safe, while an able seaman (P. Ravens wood) is not yet accounted for. The body of the other man (F. Saunders) a fireman, has been, washed up on the beach. Tho Karu left W 1 angape on Saturday with a cargo of timber for Sydney. Ail then seemed well with the ship, but when a few hours out the little vessel encountered very heavy seas and strained seriously. Finding that she was leaking badly her commander, Captain W Richmond, decided to run to the shelter of Cape Maria Van Dieman, and if possible to beach bis vestal in calm water. When approaching land, however, the leakin; vessel began rapidly to settle down, and, When it was seen she was unlikely to reach the beach, orders were given to lower the boats. Twelve members of the crew were crowded into one boat and were nearing the shore at the cape when the boat capsized in the surf and was smashed. All the men got ashore with the exception of Saunders and Ravenswood, the latter not being seen again after the boat overturned. There is very little settlement in the region immediately south of the cape and the survivors separated into parties to look for signs of habitation. One man reached Te Paki station about nine miles from the cape early this morning, and this afternoon the captain, the engineer, and two other members of the crew also reached the station. The five remaining men had not been reported at a late hour, although search parties are out. The crew as it signed on when the vessel left Auckland was as follows:—J. Richmond, captain; G. Keith, mate; A. C. Dunkley, second mate; G. F Nelson, engineer; 0. Varjoren, leading seaman; R. Ravenswood and W. R. M'Laren, A.R’s.; D.* B. Cochrane, seaman; J. T. Kyle, fireman; F. Saunders, fireman and H. Hidford, cook. T. Hallday signed on as an A. 8., but he left the vessel somewhere up the coast and is at present in Auckland.

It was stated that the crew would have been augmented on the trip from Auckland so that the new hands are not yet known. Captain Richmond, master of the Karu, was fer several years with Captain 1 Watchlin as an officer on the Louis Theriault. He left the last-named vessel to take over command of the Karu. Captain A. F. Watchlin stated this afternoon that the Karu, which was thoroughly overhauled at Auckland a few weeks ago, was in first-class condition when she left this port, and was loaded with a very bouyant cargo when she cleared Whangape for Sydney. Captain Watchlin, who is at present supervising the overhaul of the Larquentine Louis Theriault wl« a he sold recently to a Queensland firm, had intended taking over the command of the Karu at an early date. The Karu was very well known on the New Zealand coast. She was formerly called the Torgautcn and under that name saw considerable service round the Dominion. Later she was purchased by the Union Company and lenamed *he Karu. In April of 1924 c he \ j sold to an Australian Company and was towed from Port Chalmers to Sydney by the Waikouaiti. At Sydney the Karu was laid up, the project of running her in the New Guinea trade having fallen through. After a period of about 18 months she was bought by Captain A. F. Watchlin, wl.o, until recently, owned and was captain of the barquentine Louis Theriault. She was overhauled at Sydnev and arrived at Auckland with a cargo of timber a few weeks ago. She was further overhauled at this port and then proceeded to northern ports to load timber for the return trip. Captain Watchlin intended utilising hir new purchase in the timber trndo between Australia and Kopu. The Karu w an iron ateqmer of 267 tons net, and was built at Moss, Norway.

Te Paki station is the farthest north station in New Zealand. This is the place where the first news of the wreck was brought to Mr Lcn Keane, the owner at 8 o’clock this morning The Te Paki home stead is about nine miles in a south easterly direction from Cape Maria Van Diemen. The messenger from the Karu must have experienced a particularly rough time in getting across the country •s high hills and deep valleys are in between.

The Cape Maria lighthouse is in telephone commmunicfttion with the Te Paki Itation and goods for the lighthouse have to be conveyed by an aerial ropewAy to Ihe keepers from South Point, the extreme Fd of the 90 Mile Beach, the Cape Maria ht is six miles distant The coastline jaggeif, rocty, tfesofafe, arTcf ffiGSt pf€-

cipftous, and no landing is possible. Hence the reason for the ropeway between the mainland and the lighthouse. THE LATEST REPORT. THE MISSING MEN FOUND. AUCKLAND, March 1. The latest report to-night states that the Karu which loaded about 200,000 feet of timber struck a tremendous gale on •Saturday night and sprung a serious leak. The pumps were unable to keep the water down. The vessel has drifted ashore at Scott’s Point, West Coast, near Cape Maria. She is breaking up badly and the deck cargo is coming ashore. Five of tho survivors who did not reach Te Paki with the other five this afternoon were found at Spirit’s Bay about six this evening in an exhausted condition They were taken to Te Hapu on the Peronga harbour where they are being cared for. The 10 survivors are as follows: Captain Richmond ; chief officer, Mr Keith ; the second officer, Mr Duncan; the chief engineer, Mr Nelson ; the others being Hulford, O. Varjoner, D. Cochrane, R. Murray, C. Waipouri and Kyle. It is presumed that both Ravenswood and Saunders were drowned. The survivors leave for Auckland on Wednesday. A radio message from the steamer Maunganui, en route from Sydney to Auckland states that the vessel made a detour in search of the Karu. Sbme fresh was sighted, presumably from the wreck. The sea was then calm, and as the search was unsuccessful, the Maunganui resumed her voyage. NO FURTHER PARTICULARS. AUCKLAND, March 2. No further particulars regarding the wreck of the Karu near Cape Maria Van Diemen were available in Auckland today as the telephone line to Te Paki station which is nearly 300 miles north of Auckland is not working. The surviving members of the crew are expected to arrive in Auckland on Friday. SCENE OF WRECK. WILD AND DESOLATE. (Fbom Ocb Own Corhespondent.i AUCKLAND, March 2. Te Paki station where the firsi news of the disaster which had befallen the Karu was received is the farthest north settlement in New Zealand. The homestead is situated on a rise surrounded by high hills cut by steep ""valleys runnings to all parts of the surrounding coast. The nearest neighbours of the Te Paki station are about 10 miles away and are separated by very rough country which is difficult to traverse, even cn horseback. The coastline on eithei side of Cape Reinga and Scott’s Point, which includes Cape Maria Van Diemen, is particularly treacherous and consists of high rugged wills of rock continually battered by Tasman Sea rollers, swept in by the prevailing westerly winds. „ The lighthouse keepers on the island off Cape Maria are often confined to the small island for many months at a time, and, although they have a small boat, they hardly ever use it on account of the rough seas, all stores being hauled on a cable. The lighthouse is connected by telephone with Te Paki station which is also the telegraph office. The seas on the coast where the wreck occurred arg almost continually rough, although to the east of Qape Reinga, Spirits Bay and Tom Bowling Bay offer good shelter and safe land ing places The last shipping mishap occurred near the spot where the Karu is wrecked and involved the scow Haere, which was blown ashore on the beach seven mi’ s- th of Cape Maria on June 24, 1922. Her hull was strained and her rudder broken, otherwise she was not very badly damaged. Like the Karu the Haere was loaded with timber, and after it had been unloaded on the beach she was temporarily repaired and towed to Auckland THE HAMPTON MURDER. M‘MAIION A FORMER RESIDENT" OF VVAIROA. VVAIRuA, March 2. Inquiries made locally and confirmed by the police show that the New Zealander M‘Mahon, who was sentenced at Melbourne to 15 years’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of Mr Almeida, formerly resided for a numb of years at YVairoa. After working in various parts of the district lie enlisted and went to the war. On his return he was employed by the Public Works Department. He disappeared two years and a-half ago, and all trace of him was lost until certain inquiries were recently received .from Australia.