THE NGATIAWA FATALITY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2390, 4 January 1909, Page 3

THE NGATIAWA FATALITY.

DROWNING OF CAPTAIN STEIN

[Press Association.]

AUCKLAND, Jan. 2. Captain P. A. Stein, master of the Northern S.S. Company’s steamer Xgatiawa, fell overboard and was ■drowned on the Opotiki bar on Wednesday. The Xgatiawa wag outward bound from Opotiki to Auckland, and had on board a large number of excursionists. The bar (on which there is very little water at the best of times) is a bane to the master mariner •not only on this account., but also because the channels are frequently changing. Apparently the channel had changed somewhat, for the Ngatiawa got aground. She is now high* and drv, and is not expected to bo floated off until the spring tides -occur next week. So far, particulars of the fatality have not come to hand, but it would appear that, alter the IN gat tawa took the ground. Captain Stem was engaged in taking soundings (possibly in a small boat) when he overbalanced., and 1 ell into the w-atei and was drowned. Tlie first intelligence of the accident was received at- Auckland by Mr. Charles Jftawson, general manager for the Northern S.S. Co., in a wire from Mr Fox, the company s manager at Opotiki. The message was as follows: “Ngatiawa grounded on tho bar last night, and is now high and dry. There are no prospects of floating her until the next spring tides. Captain Stein fell overboard and was drowned. The Body was subsequently recovered.” Tlie late Captain Stein was over 50 years of age, and was married, his wife and family residing in Ponsonby. He had been in the service of the Northern Cpinpany for upwards of 20 years, and there was not-a more popular manner trading on the coast. The Ngatiawa is a steel twin-screw steamer of 451 tons gross, built in 1906, by D. J. Dunlop, and Co., lort Glasgow. Her length is 152: feet, and breadth 27 feet. Captain Stem wns appointed her commander last yea?.