SERIOUS SHIPPING DISASTERS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3739, 25 September 1886, Page 3

SERIOUS SHIPPING DISASTERS.

■' ■ ■ » LOSS OF TWO WELL-KNOWN SCHOOSEfi J . (Bs Telegraph. ) Bluff, Sept. 24. I Two wrecks occurred here last night, viz , the top?ail Bchooner Maid of Otago, and the Government schooner Kekcno. 'Ihe former vessel was bound to Biverton with general cargo from Dunedin, and the Kekcno -was returning to port after a three months' cruise at the outlying islands. Shortly before midnight, a strong easterly wind sprang up, ■which rapidly increased to a perfect gale, ■with an intensely dark night. The Kekeno •was the first to "enter port, and reached the lower anchorage shortly after midnight, but owing to a gale the anchor chains were broken, and the vessel was driven ashore. The Kekeno now, nt high water, is standing upright, with the sea washing over her, and bumping heavily, and will not las', long if the wind continues! The lug Awarua went to her assistance at daylight this morning, and the crew with their clothing \rere taken on board the steamer, and landed at the wharf. Captain Greig, formerly harbourmaster here, was master of the Kekeno, and was thoroughly acquainted with the port. 'Jhe Maid of Otago, owing to the heavy gale, was runcing into port for shelter. As

she neared the red light at Stirling Print the captain was evidently deceived by tiie distance of the land end hugged the poir.t too closely, and m consequence is cuppa.-cd to have strucfe on the b.b. Pelhain. Blue lights were burnt by the crew, which the night-watchman replied to. The pilot boot was launched immediately, and the- crow were taken off and landed at the pilot station. The master and crew lost all their effects, and had it not been for the pilot boat, lives would m all probability have been lost. The schooner lias since broken up, and at 8 a.m. no appearance was to be seen of tho hull. The beach is strewn with cargo and portions of tho vessel. The insurances are not known here, but the Maid of Otago and cargo is supposed to be covered m Dunedin. The Eekeno is not known to be insured. INVERCARGILL. Sept. 24. The schooner Maid of Otago, 50 tons, Captain Fraser, trading between Dunedin and Riverton, ran into the Bluff last night for shelter. When coming m sho struck on a rock outside the Pilot Station, where tho 8.8. Pelham waa wrecked, and soon began to break up, and the cargo of merchandise was scattered over the water. The crew were landed by the pilot staff. The vessel went ashore about 1 a.m. Yesterday afternoon the Government schooner Kekeno, Captain Greig, left Stewart Island for the Bluff, and dropped insirlo the lower anchorage about midnight. Soils were furled and tho schooner let go, but the vessel had some way on, and it is supposed the cable snapped. At any rate the ve?sel dristed on to the rocks. This was not detected m the darkness, and when noticed an effort was made to save her by letting go tho other anchor, bat it was then too late to save the vessel. The crew were laudel. Tho tug tried to get tho schooner off to-day, but was unsuccessful. DTTUBDiy, Sept. 24. He the Maid of Otago, wrecked at the Bluff, there arc no insurances on tho hull. The insurances on the cargo arc : — Union, £340; Standard, £240; National, ■ £224 ; Equitable, £!10; Victoria, £Ll6; United, £65 ; New Zealand, £250 ; total, £1245. LATEST PARTICULARS. Intebcabgill, Sept. 24. Petersen, not Fraser as previously telegraphed, was master of the Maid of Otago wrecked at the Bluff this morning. The crew had a narrow -escapo, their boat being store m, and but for the fact that tho watchman waa at the point and roused tic pilot staff, they would probably hare perished. The Harbor Board have recently decided to give up keeping a night watchman who is under notice to leave the service. I