SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13312, 14 June 1907, Page 5

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

LOSS OF THE KIA ORA. THREE MEN DROWNED. SURVIVORS IN DISTRESS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 13. The following message was received by the Inspector of Police at 8.30 to-night : " The'Kia Ora, on the: voyage from Waitara "to" Onehunga, was wrecked about 30 miles down the coast, between Kawhia • and Mokau, and Captain Blacklock and two passengers (Forbeis and Ross) were drowned: There are 27 survivors stranded on the coast, some distance from any settlement." At 8.45 the following message was received from Constable McCarthy: —" aj.ave received word that the s.s. Kia Ora has been wrecked 20 miles beyond Kawhia, on a very rough and inaccessible coast. Two 'passengers (Forbes .and Ross) are reported to have-been drowned." ■ Ttoss is said to belong' to Hawera. Y There are 27 survivors- ashore, and they are without food or..shelter.- ... Th<3 settlers havs gone to their assistance with food. . The sea is too \ rough for a boat to leave Kawhia. Constable McCarthy.' is leaving for the scene. , The- track is, through rough and broken country." . )

ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. AUCKLAND, June 13. The Kia O.ra struck near Turua Point, about 3 miks distant between. Kawhia and the Mokau, about 3 o'clock this morning. Information is meagre, and comes by telephone' from. Kawhia. The vessel it is stated immediately sank. The weather was not rough, but, there was an unusually heavy fog. Captain Blacklock went down with,his ship. Of the survivors a dozen are passengers, all for Kawhia, and Raglan. The place where they are is four miles from the nearest settler's house, and is a most inaccessible and desolate spot. '•' The 'settlers have gone down with provisions, but will not get there till daylight to-morrow morning. In the meantime the shipwrecked people will be without food or shelter. A constable from Kawhia and party are going to the spot to-morrow, is v ; one ..sea-going boat now at Kawhia, '.'but it is only a small vessel, and could not possibly make the coast. This boat arrived at'KawMa this afternoon, -and called, at a place, not fai distant from where the wreck occurred, but did not see anything. The only hope the survivors havo is overland.