THE WRECK OF THE 'TARANAKI.'-THE STEAMER BREAKS UP.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 3183, 2 December 1878, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE 'TARA-NAKI.'-THE STEAMER BREAKS UP.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

A comsp'oNDENT of the Auckland Star supplies the following:—

Taueanga, Friday.

We had just gone below for.breakfast when the vessel struck. All ran up on deck, and.found the bows wedged between rocks, with an inaccessible precipioe in front. Thore was a good deal of excitement, but Captain Malcolm and the officers were quite cool, The rock had not been seen in the dence fog until the steamer was close upon it. The captain immediately ordered "full speed astern," but it was too late. Seeing this, he gave the word " full speed ahead," in order to secure a firm hold on the rooks. The boats were at once ordered out. Fortunately, the sea was quiet, although there was a heavy swell. Four boats were launohed after considerable trouble, and there was a rush to get in. But the captain and the cooler passengers insisted upon embarking all the women and children first. This was safely accomplished, and the boats pulled round a point to find a landing place, which was secured. The whole of the passengers were quickly landed, and a quantity of provisions were then taken ashoro for their use. The captain sent the chief officer with a boat at 10 o'clock to Tauranga for assistance. The cutters ' Waratah' and ' Lancashire Lass' bore down on the island soon after 1 o'clock. Meantime, unceasing exertions had been made successfully to save mails, baggage, Ac, At 4i o'olock the captain was just commencing to embark the passengers aboard the cutters, when the smoke of a steamer was observed in the direction of Tauranga. This proved to be the * Staffa.' The' liowena' came up soon after, and passengers and other things which had been saved were transferred, the steamers leaving the wreck at 7 o'olock. Captain Malcolm determined to stay on the island, and received hearty cheers as the rescuing vessels steamed away. All the passengers speak highly of him, and express much sympathy for his misfortuno. On arrival in Tauranga the passengers were all received with open houses, every exertion being made to accommodate us.

The eauno of the disaster s The cause of the accident is mere conjecture. It was very foggy all night, and the vossel was goint; vory easy astern when she struck. The captain was on the bridge at the time, and believed tho ship was three miles to the eastward of her actual position. .Hither the compass had varied, or the vessel had driited very much out of her course during the night. On the whole the passengors behaved well, but there was a strong feeling among them that the boats should be stowed in suoli a way as would secure a more expeditious launching. The greater part of an hour was consumed in getting them afloat, and if tho steamer had slipped off into deep water and flunk the loss of life would liavo been fearful, Captain Malcolm showed great judgment after the casualty. By keeping full steam ahead he kept the vessel in position. Otherwise, if she had gone ofi after the damago sustained she would undoubtedly have smashed up. As it was she heeled over on the port side, and tho waves washed into tho cabins. The people ou the island kept as cheerful as could bo rxpectcd under the circumstances, discussing their misfortunes and provisions under cover of the karaka trees growing ou tho island. ' It was intensely hot. Samuel Westlake, a boy belonging to tho Auckland Training Ship, at Eohimarama, bohaved in an exceptionally gallant manner. He passed a long rope partly under water, and entered the hold by a hole made by rooks, thus managing

to savo a good many things which would otherwise havo been lost.

. _ Saturday, 3 p.m. The steamer broke in halves last night, and slipped off tho rock into deep water, The mails were saved, and have boon brought to Tauranga, There is very little prospect of saving any of tho cargo, or whatever may bo got up will bo of no value, as it will bo damaged by salt water. Many of tho passengers wero in a great stato of excitement during tho scene, and it is thought that many valuable articles which might havo been saved were forgotten in the hurry and confusion of the moment. A considorablo part of the passengers' luggage was lost, but some has boen saved and brought up in tho 'Staffs.' The ' Hawoa' will probably return direct to Auckland, and leave immediately afterwards for tho purpose of conveying passengers to their destination.

4 p.m. The ' Taranaki' broke hop back last night, and the stern-post slipped .down into deep water. The sea has made a clean sweep of her cargo, None of' it that may be aared will bo of any value, though every effort is being made to save the floating portions. The' Staffa' has gone down this morning to render further assistance, but lias not yet returned. The passengers have boon offered the oplion of going back to Auckland, and proceed" ing to their destination via the W'ost Coast, or of remaining hero until tho return of the ' Hawea.' The people are doing their utmost to entertain and assist the shipwreoked passengers, and the Com' pany's agents are working most energetically. Mr Edgcumbo is raising a subscription for the persons who have lost their, all in the' Taranaki,' and has already collected £60. At a meeting of tho passengers of tho 'Taranaki' it was resolved to proscnt Captain Malcolm with an addross and subscription. The ' Taranaki' is valued at £16,000; is partly insured at homo. The following companies have risks upon her:-South British, £2500, mostly re-insured; Colonial, £700; National, £750, N,Z„ £750. The a.s. • lona,' with Captain Worsp and Mr Gr. M. Von der Heydo (Henderson and Macfarlane), left Auckland for the sceno of the wreok at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Tho wrockis advertised to be sold by Messrs B. Tonks and Co. THE STEAMER BREAKING UP. Saturday, 8 40 p.m. The steamer 'Staffa' visited the wreok of the 8.8. 'Taranaki' to-day. Her baok is broken and her after parts sunk in deep water. The remainder is breaking up fast. All the cargo has been washed away, and tho sea is strowed with fragments. A heavy from the cast renders operations diffioult.