THE TAIAROA DISASTER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XX, Issue 5883, 20 April 1886, Page 2

THE TAIAROA DISASTER.

(PER UNITED PRKB3 ASSOCIATION.) Blbnheim, April 19. A considerable quantity of passengers' lugKßße has been recovered from the hold of the Tainroa. Amongst the boxes was Mrs FitzGerald's containing personal trinkets aud effeotß. The box is much damaged, and a portion of the contents lost in the water. Yesterday a gang of men put on by the Union Company got out more luggage, but bad to leave the vessel on acoonnt of the heavy sea, She showed signs of heavy straining. OFFICIAL ENQUIRY. Wellington, April 19. . Captain Thompson re-called— The line to whioh the boats were made fast to was passed out of the starboard port near the stern ; each boat's painter was tied to the line, the loose end of which was floating astern. The boats lay under the stern of tho vessel, whioh, as the wind was right ahead, were beside the' steamer. John Maokay, A»B,, said he was oalled at 7 p.m. on Sunday to go on the look-out. Could see nothing of land when he went on the forccaatlo head. He afterwards went on the bridgo, and from there he thought he could see a loom of land on the port bow. He spoke to the chief officer about it, and he immediately ran down and oalled the oaptain without leaving any orders. Witness went and helped the man at the wheel, and put it (the wheel) over hard a starboard. The captain immediately rushed up and put the telegraph full-speed astern, but in a few seaonds the vessel struck. Samuel Dairy mple, engineer, deposed that he was on deck when the vessel struck, and at 7.12 the telegraph rang full-speed astern, He at once answered the telegraph and reversed the engines, This took about one minute, and after the engines were reversed he felt the vessel strike. The engines were kept going full-apeed astorn for fully ten minutest The vessel was bumping heavily, and commenced to make water. As soon as ho noticed this ho went on deck, and asked the captain if it was any use to continue going astern ; he (the captain) told him to go on for a few minutes longer. Witness found on returning to the engine-room that there were four feet of water there; The oaptain then ordered the engines to be 'stopped. The steamer struck under the engine-room or. stoke-hole. The evidence of Captain Gray, of on© of the Government steamers, was to the effect that he knew of no currents setting along that coast,' Captain Willis, of the Wakatu, stated that currents along that coast invariably act to the north, but would be affected by a northerly wind. Captain Bendall, surveyor for the Underwriters and Lloyiie, gave evidence as to the position of the vessel, and also as to currents on the coast where the Taiaroa was wrecked. Mr Bell, for the Marine Department, asked for an adjournment for a fortnight, and this was granted,