THE WRECK OF THE MAORI.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2577, 11 August 1909, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE MAORI.

CABLE NEWS.

A BRAVE ACTION. ; , - - : . : I GALLANT ITALIAN FISHERMAN. United Press Association— Copyright LONDON, August 9. An Italian fisherman named Messana, with great gallantry, crawled along tho razor edge 1 of a rock, swept by heavy seas, in order to catch a rope from the wrecked Maori, thus rendering rescue possible.

POLICEMEN’S EXTRAORDINARY CONDUCT. FAIL TO REPORT PRESENCE OF SURVIVORS ON THE WRECK. (Received August 10, 10.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 10. Two Capetown policemen are being prosecuted for not reporting a fisherman’s statement made on Thursday evening, that he had seen five persons on the Maori.,

The Maori was one of the oldest representatives of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company’s fleet, and, with the exception of the Pakelia and Ranga-t-ira (the last-mentioned has now been sold), the smallest. She was built in 1893 in the yards of Messrs C. S. Swan and Hunter, of Newcastle, to the order of the Shaw, Savill Company. The Maori was specially . designed and fitted out for the colonial frozen meat trade, the whole of the then latest improvements having been introduced in her deck and cargo stowage. She was built on the improved threedeck type, with poop, long bridgehouse, and long topgallant forecastle. Water ballast was adequately provided on the cellular double-bottom principle throughout. Her deck machinery included eight powerful steam winches. The engines were of 29, 46, and 77 inches diameter of cylinders, with a stroke of 48 inches. The dimensions of the steamer were: 402 ft length, 48ft in breadth, with a moulded depth of 32ft Gin. The holds and ’tween checks of the vessel were insulated, and the refrigerating machinery was supplied by the Haslam Foundry and Engineering Company (Limited), Derby. 'Her gross registered tonnage was 5317 tons, net 4705 tons, and she had a speed of 12 knots an hour. _ Some years ago she made two trips in tho mail service, and on those occasions carried passengers, but recently she was _ a cargo carrier only. She was classified 100 A 1 at Lloyd’s. When the Maori was in New Zealand waters last December, she was then in command of Captain G. Nicole, and some of the officers associated with him were: Chief, Mr. H. G. Roberts; 'second, Mr. C. M. Andrews; third, Mr. C. Rawlinson; fourth, Mr. P, McDonald; chief engineer, Mr. Brewer; chief refrigerating engineer, Mr. Hutchison; chief steward, Mr. E. Collins. Captain G. Nicole was about 60 years of age, and had had over thirty years’ service with the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company. He commenced in the sailing vessels in the early days, and later on worked step by step to positions of responsibility in different of the company’s steamers. Some twelve years ago he was appointed master of the Pakeba, and later on had command of the Rangitira. It was when Captain Moffat assumed command of the Mamari about five years ago that Captain Nicole was transferred to the Maori. He was spoken of as a most experienced navigator, one who knew the Cape of Good Hope thoroughly, and who was familiar -with the normal currents and the character of the weather obtaining in that locality.