SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12869, 3 January 1906, Page 7

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

STRANDING OK THE KAPITI, "Per Press Association. . HAWERA, January S. The Eapiti is again ashore at Patea, Slaving grounded on : Saturday afternoon. She had 4000 boxes of butter on board, of which 1500 have been removed. The officers eipect to float the vessel off without removing;,any more,, hut it is blowing a gale thisjmorning which may alter the position. THE ILL-FATED OBAN. WELLINGTON, January 2. The scow Oban and her cargo were uninsured,, but as the vessel lies partly sub-merged-near the wharf at Worser Bay it is expected that both cargo and scow will be saved."?. It is believed that as the yeseel was ; under tow the cargo shifted into her nose, .throwing her -stern up, and the theory is that the crew went forward to remedy matters or loosen the tow line, when she dipped into the -sea,* and all went overboard. On the other hand, it is possible that'either cue ;«r two hands were in the cabin when the water swept oyer the vessel, and that their bodies are there. Owing to the boisterous weather nothing; can be done in the way of searching the' vessel, ,but Mr Ernest Pilcher, owner, is, doing all that 5s possible to clear up themystery. V- ' The captain of the states that on Sunday night when towing the Oban hehad a most unenviable, time, the tug being* continuaHyr swept by.-spray.' The Oban three yeans ago capsized twice in the Straits and: Sounds respectively, but ftonT a cause quite apart from the present incident. MeKenzie, of Auckland, "was making ids second visit master of the ObafaiS "«nd "expressed himself well; pleased with She little vessel. The lives of the captain and his companions were insured bySthe owner. The «of the crew of the scow ©ban," tV'have been washed off and <irowned,>:are /Donald JMcKenzie, aged 40 (captain! y M. Johnson, aged 25, A."B. : and A. Martin, aged 31, A.B.