THE RUAPEHU ASHORE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5761, 4 January 1897, Page 4

THE RUAPEHU ASHORE.

STRANDED AT FAREWELL SPIT. PASSENGERS AND MAILS TAKEN OFF. [Per Press WELLINGTON, Jan. 2. The harbour steamer Mana 'left this afternoon with a hawser and surf-boat, and the Talune, which sailed for Sydney to-night, will call at Farewell Spit in the morning and render assistance if necessary. The latest messenger to Farewell lighthouse from the spot where the Euapehu is ashore, reports that so far therß has been no communication held with the vessel, which stands on an even keel. The crew are apparently busily engaged erecting derricks with the view of discharging cargo, if necessary, to lighten the ship. As the spot where she is ashore is a &andy beach, no danger is anticipated to those on board. The Euapehu has 77 saloon and 143 steerage passengers, and 1247 tons of cai'go (including transhipments) for Wellington, 789 for Lyttelton, and 45 for Auckland. Captain D. Stuart is in command. Singular to say, the Euapehu some years ago, when in charge of Captain Greenstreet, in coming from London to Wellington, touched on Farewell Spit, but. sustained no damage. ' . At what hour the accident happened is, of course, not known, but it is believed that it was late last night and possibly in thick weather. On the other hand, one well-known skipper here states that the light! on the Spit might have been hidden from view by high sandhills on the western side of the Spit. Captain Smith, of the Eosamond, reports, that only recently he had difficulty in picking up the light, owing to very thick weather, and that mariners often get close to the sand spit before they are aware of the danger. About seven miles from the lighthouse there is a small projection of lan,d where, it is presumed, the steamer has gone ashore. Jan. 3. The Premier last evening suggested to the New Zealand Shipping Company that they should obtain the services of the Westport Harbour Board's tug, which is the most powerful one in the colony, to assist in the attempt to tow the Euapehu off, the beach. This suggestion has been communicated by the officer in charge of the company's local office to the proper authorities.

Owing to the isolated position where the vessel ran ashore, only the most meagre information is available in connection with the accident, though the officers of the company have offered the public all the information in their possession. Naturally, considerable excitement was occasioned over the stranding, but what little anxiety was felt for the safety of those on board was allayed this afternoon by the receipt of a message from the Farewell Spit light-house-keeper stating that the Corinna had passed there shortly after noon with all the passengers and mails. At 6.30 this morning Farewell Spit reported that the steamers Corinna, Wayerley and Talune had, passed there on the way to the Ruapehu. The weather was then too hazy to discern clearly what was going on at the spot where she struck ; but it was mentioned that the vessel's position appeared to have slightly altered "during the night. At 8.30 a further message was sent that the weather was still fine, but too . hazy to observe the operations. At that hour the barometer at Farewell registered 301 5, and was still rising, and the thermometer 603. A messenger had been despatched to the scene, and further information was promised on his return. It was also thought that a number of men who had been engaged in the erection of a new lighthouse on the Spit would proceed to the scene and render any assistance in their power. At one this afternoon, Farewell Spit reported that the Corinna, with all the passengers and mails] passed there at 12.25 p.m., also that the Talune had signalled that it was hopeless to attempt towing the stranded vessel off to-day, and had therefore proceeded on her way to Sydney. The telegram added that the wind was freshening and the sea making. Prom the tenor of this latter telegram'it is feared that some difficulty will be met with in floating the steamer, but more definite information will be obtained on the arrival of the Corinna about ten o'clock to-night. The Premier has authorised tha Health Officer to inspect the Euapehu's passengers on the arrival of the Corinna to-night, instead ot waiting for daylight to-morrow. This will enable the passengers to get on shore to-night. ,

LATER PARTICULARS. Jan. 3 (1 a.m.) The Corinna reached the wharf at midnight with the Ruapehu's passengers. It appears that the vessel ran ashore about seven on Friday night, when it was almost broad daylight, and lies in practically a safe position about a mile from the shore. ' On Sunday morning the Waverley carried a hawser from the Talune to the stranded vessel, but in the attempt to tow it parted, and further efforts were abandoned, though noi difficulty is anticipated in successfully floating the vessel. At eleven in the morning 1 the work of transhipping the passengers from the Ruapehu to the Corinna was begun, the Mawhera acting as tender, and in a couple of hours all were safely on board with the exception of about a dozen young fellows who decided to stand by the steamer. The deck was in charge of the first and fourth officers at the time of the accident. When the Corinna left only a moderate sea was running. NELSON, Jan. 3 (Midnight). The steamer Waverjey .reached the vicinity of the Ruapehu about 5 a.m., when the gauges on the Ruapehu showed 14ft at the stern and 13ffr'"6in at the bow, and soundings gave loft close by. Her head pointed due west towards Pillar Point, which was about; six miles distant. Farewell Lighthouse, which was not visible from the place, being hidden by a ninety-foot sandhill, is something over eight miles distant. At eleven o'clock her gauges showed 22ft aft and 16ft forward, but before that the Talune had tugged strenuously, the other lines hayang parted, and her stern was shifted so that her head now points south-west. The Omapere held on a. line to keep her in the same position. - When the tide turned the steamers left, but the Kennedy and. Mawhera went to the Spit end where the water is smooth, the forjner transhipping . coal to the Mawhera in order to go alongside and : lighter th 6 Ruapehu. Evidently sand has piled up round, the steamer, as before leaving the Waverley had only twelve feet. Captains Rose and Bendall remain on board the Mawhera, which returns to render aid, but more strong haAVsers are needed. The highest tides are expected to-morrow. The passengers were transhipped into the Mawhera, which went alongside, and they cheered as they left. They were sent to Wellington in the Corinna. :