TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. RANGITOTO.

Colonist, Volume XVI, Issue 1663, 26 August 1873, Page 5 (Supplement)

TOTAL WRECK OF THE S.S. RANGITOTO.

By the arrival of the s.s Wellington, at Wellington, on Thursday, July 31st, intelligence was received of the total loss of the steamer Rangitoto, which left Nelson at 1 p.m on July 30th, while on her passage to Wellington, and when passing through the French Pass, off Jackson's Point, about half-an-hour behind the Wellington. Captain Muckie, not having been to bed since arrival at Hokitika, had. turned in, the steamer being in oharge of the chief officer. Jackson's Point was hugged too closely, and the steamer struck, bumping heavily. The sea was quite calm at the time. The bottom of the vessel was stove in, the fires being extinguished, and the vessel making at the rate of a foot of water a minute. Orders were. at once given to drive her ashore, but there was hardly sufficient steam for the purpose. The place where she was beached is surmounted by inaccessible rooks, 800 feet high. Her bows are resting on a ledge of rooks, and the stern floating in deep water. The boats were lowered, and the greatest order prevailed. Mr. Nancarrow and the second mate, with a boat's orew, started to meet the Weilington, expected on her return down the Sound from Pioton, and succeeded in being picked up by that steamer, which immediately proceeded to the wreck. Two boats, filled chiefly with ladies and children, to the number of 56, after lying by the ship for four hours, proceeded up the Sound, landing at Turner's station. On the arrival of the Wellington at the wreck, attention was drawn by the firing of a gun and burning blue lights on the Rangitoto. Shortly after, two boats came off from the wreck, containing ladies, children, and others who had not found room in the boats seeking refuge up the. Sound. The Wellington approaching as close aa safety admitted to the wreck, the boats from both steamers were busy all night saving the mails, passengers' baggage, and portion of the cargo. Efforts to save everything possible continued till eight o'clook this morning, at which hour, leaving men still aboard removing,goods to boats, the Wellington steamed up the Sound to Little Cove. Shortly after this the castaways were ■ taken on board, and she went baok to the wreck, where she lay for half-an-hour, until the Racgitoto went down by the stern, the brew and those on board saving themselves by a boat. The crew were then taken on board the Wellington, which was then crowded, and she left for this port about eleven o'olock. The Rangitoto's stern and hull were about three-fourths submerged, and sheolung to the ledge of rockjby the bows, while the surfaceof thesea was covered by the floating oargo breaking up through the decks.. The position of Jackson's Point is exceedingly exposed to the shifting wind, so that it is likely that all Bigns of the wreck will soon disappear. Mr. Blackwood, one of the owners, was on board. The followis a list of the passengers:—Mr and Mrs Pauling, 4 children, and servant; Mrs Hector, 2 children, and servant; Mrs Sharp and child, Mr and Mrs Gould, Misses J Carandini, Davidson, Purty, Barly, Frith Amy Frith; Rev Mr and Mrs Xirrininont, Rev Mr Andrews, Messrs Nancarrow, Blaokwood, Parker (M.H.R), G. S. Miller, Cunningham, Hill, M'Oabe, Jones, Davis, Bradshaw, and Monro. Tne passengers speak with gratitude and great warmth of feeling respecting the kindness of Captain Carey, his officers and men.' An address was'presented, to Captain Carey.by the passengers of the Rsngitoto and another from those by the Wellington; The wreck of the Rangitoto was sold by auction at Wellington on August 4th, for £165, Mr. Hartmann being the purchaser, on behalf of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company. The vessel is resting on an even keel, and is, accord* ing to latest intelligence, but little injured. We understand that it is now the intention of the Company, construct large punts in the neighborhood of the Sound, capable of lifting suohaheavy weight as the now submerged vessel, and afterwards'to tow her to a place of safety. All necessary soundings have been taken, and a complete plan for carry ing. out the work has been- made,- and should the ship hold together until the appliances, now in course of construction, can be got.ready. Mr. Coffey sees no difficulty in the way of saving the vessel. We hope he may be successful. [ The Enqtjiby. Thx inquiry into the wreck of the Rangitoto was , concluded yesterday evening, when the Court, after considerable consideration, gave its decision to the effect that, in its opinion the master should have taken the vessel past Jackson's Head and all outlying danger; but as he had an officer who held a certificate of competency as master, and he bad on previous occasions taken the vessel through the passage, the . Court, while taking all this into consideration, held that the master, should be censured. The immediate '. cause of the wreck appeared to have been an error of I judgment on the part of the chisf officer with regard to the distance between. Jackson's Head and the reef; bnt as. he bad frequently taken the same passage, the Court was of opinion that on that occasion he did not exeroise suoh vigilance as was necessary in intricate navigation. In bis case, also, the Court judged that he should be censured and admonished for tbe future. ~ The Court was further of opinion that had the sliding door of the water compartment been sbut at the lime of the casualty, the vessel might possibly have floated some considerable time longer. — Post, August 2. • • •'■■

Wbeck of the Schoohib Oantibbtjbt.—Th» schooner Canterbury, which left Lyttelton on Saturday last, bound for Hokitika with a cargo of produce* has been wrecked at the Kaikoru. Finding that she ilft had sprung a leak, the captain beached h»r at the Kaikoras, where she now lie* on the rocki full oft . water. She is likely to become a total wreck.' Her hull is insured in'the New Zealand Insurance Company for £160, and her cargo in. the South British Insurance. Company for &MSC—Canterbury JYwm, July 31, , ■ >