THE TAUPO.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 661, 27 March 1879, Page 2

THE TAUPO.

(From the Bay of Pltntij Times, March 25.) All the sanguine expectations of raising the unfortunate Taupo which have been formed from time to time for the last month or more have, at any rate for. some little period, been dooomed to disappoint ment, and the fine steamer lies, and will lie for some time, a plaything for^ the waves. Things were going smoothly and confident hopes of raising her shortly were entertained until the end of last week. It will be remembered that a north-east gale sprang up, which lasted for two or three days. This was what Capt; Worsp always feared. From any other direction a gale was of little importance, but to the north-east lay the open sea, : and a gale coming from that quarter, brought with it a heavy sea and powerful swell which beat the poor Taupo about most mercilessly, and bumped and' tossed her on the rocks beneath. The consequence, of course, was that the leaks, which were gradually being stopped, enlarged considerably, the iron splitting in all directions. When the gale had subsided and the pumpswere again.- set going with a view to pump her out, it was found that the leaks let in such large quantities of water that no impression could be made on it; : Operations were thus forced to cease, for with the hold full of water it was not possible to get the casks and tanks: in. Under these circumstances, the •insurance agents interested, met and discussed thejad viability either of calling tenders foV the purchase of the vessel as she lies, or for tenders for raising her. by means of sailing vessels, presumably by Captain Cole's method. The latter seemed to them more advisable,, and in. consequence, tenders have been called for in Dunedin and Auckland. In the meantime, Captain Worsp has gone to Auckland and most of the men employed in the recent operations have been paid off, no further work being possible. Speculation as to the probabilities of her being raised in the manner proposed, would of course be sheer waste of paper, but if there is any possibility of it now that the leaks are so much larger, it seems a great pity that so long a time should have been wasted in making costly experiments, when it was fully; understood that the first heavy weather from the north-east would knock the hull to pieces. Expedition should have been the one precept to follow; '.'