THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

West Coast Times, Issue 14139, 15 June 1907, Page 3

THE WRECK OF THE KIA ORA.

Auckland, June 14

News of the Kia Ora wreck was sent by a man who rode 35 miles to the nearest telephone station. Latest news Is to the effect that the survivors are having a very bad time in an exposed situation without food or olothing. A relief party, including Constable McOarthy and T>r Jenkins left Kawhia this mornini? for the scene with food, clothing and restorative?. Forbes, who was drowned, ia believed to be a son of Sergeant Forbes, and is well known in Auckland. The Kia <*ra was uninsured, exoept in the Company* own fund. The ca'go was a viluable one, and includes flax valued at £50 for Kawbia.

Captain Blacklock, master o£ the Kia Ora, is a married man, aged 35 years, and leaves a wife aud three children. New Plymouth, June 14.

The Barawa arrived here this morning and left immediately for the aoene of the wreck, She arrived off Turu* Point after five hours' sail. Only a soaa'l piece of wreckage was sighted, The Kla Ora ran on a reeE about a mile off shore and sank in twenty minutes. The second officer was on watch at tbe time of the mishap.

The women aud children were got off safely in tbe first lifeboat, bub tbe port boat was smashed to atoms when hunched. The craw and male passengers took refuge wherever possible. The steamer commenced to graJually slip back off the reef on to which she bad sailed and then suddenly parted amidships. Nearly everyone was thrown or washed overboard. A raft released itself and on this eleven persons crowded. Six made their way to the boat. The captiin was standing by the funnel with a firemaa and seaman before the final break up. Ec aacepted a lifebelt from Fireman Symas and said "Good-bye." He was not seen again. The boat and raft jo nly effected a landing five miles 1 south of the wreck. Matches and tabloid food were found intact in sea'ed packages on the boat and raft; Food from the Marakopa settlers re-iched the survivors at 3 o'clock thii

morning and at daylight all made their way along the coast through heavy scrub to a Maori settler where tbe majority arrivad just as the Rarawa anchored. A boai effected a landing with a doctor through tbe surf under great difficulty and fcnnd ODe ra«enger with bis leg broken, who bail been picked up by tbe raft and carried with great difficulty. Several sustained minor injuries. All were attended by Dr Wylie. Extreme difficulty was experienced in rehunching the life boat, Nine of tbe strongest of the crew were brought aboard tbe Rarawa and were brought lo New Plymouth, which was reached at 9 o'clock. The survivors on shore are being kindly attended to by the settlers and are in no immediate danger. A heavy swell coming up prevented fuither attempts to laud being made. All the crew except the capUin are safe, but no authentic news could be got regarding the names of the passengers, The second steward says there ;were thirtyfive aboard and only twenty-seven are accountad for. In tbat oase eight are miesing, but there is a possibility tbat some of these may have made the shore at other points.