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Post by NZBC on Oct 9, 2012 17:33:25 GMT 12
BONES AND BODIES.
WELLINGTON, October 21
A number of bodies and bones of Chinese have been disinterred from the Karori Cemetery, and will be shipped on the Vent or for Hong Kong, with similar consignments from the South and Westland. Captain Ferry, of the Ventor, says the transport of remains of Chinamen is an everyday occurrence'in the East. He had read gresttiy.-exaggerated accounts of the proceelings in 'connection with this shipment and thought much unnecessary ;fuss had been created. As far as he was concerned, he was iust carrying a few hundred. ca«es ofmerchandise. The bodies and bones were properly packed.. and there was nothing whatever to object to about them: Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11770, 22 October 1902, Page 5
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Post by NZBC on Oct 9, 2012 19:14:41 GMT 12
LATEST TELEGRAMS [PRESS ASSOCIATION.]
GREYMOUTH, This Day. A good many months ago all the Chinese corpses on the Coast over 150 were exhumed, and the bones are stored in an iron «hed near Greymouth cemetery. It was expected that they would have been removed some time ago. There is a general feeling of uneasiness at the thought of their remaining during the coming summer months, as thero are a good many dwellings in the vicinity. The authorities here protested strongly, but they wero assured by the Colonial Secretary that every precaution would be taken. Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 61, 9 September 1902, Page 6
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Post by NZBC on Oct 9, 2012 19:19:17 GMT 12
LESS RECENT CHINESE. THE DISINTEkMENTS AT Greymouth
GREYMOUTH, This Day. One hundred and seventy-two dead bodies of Chinamen were ahipped by the steamer nimu thin morning-. A special train brought them in from a shed in tbe cemetery just after midnight, and ran them down alongside the steamer, where all were loaded in a couple of hours, the Rimu leaving at 5 o'clock in the morning for Bluff with its cargo of bones. At Invercargill he will load a further lot of dead Celestials. Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVI, 14 October 1902, Page 3
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Post by NZBC on Oct 9, 2012 19:38:04 GMT 12
The wreck of the Ventnor and loss of so many Chinese bodies has opened a way for much discussion with the Chinese: The Chinese believe that when their friends die "their spirits remain with their bones, and so it is most unfortunate to die and be buried in a strange land away from their kindred, with no one to worship at their graves. Thus they believe in sending their bones back to China they are giving pleasure to the dead, and to their descendants to ten thousand generations. About 25 years, ago a club, Chong Sin Tong, was formed in New Zealand to collect and defray the cost of sending back the bones of dead Chinamen to China. The cargo of the ill fated Ventnor cost about £3,000 to collect and tranship. They never anticipated the Ventnor would be lost. At first when the news came they thought it must be a joke. When they found it was true many said the Chong Sin Tong Society had done something wrong, and the spirits had caused the ship to sink. Others said the late Sue Hoy had quarrelled with another Chinamen, and had said he would fight him until both theii bodies were at the bottom of the great sea, Both these men's bodies were on board the Ventrior, so they say their spirits caused, the ship to sink; For himself, Mr Wong believes it was God's wish that these bodies should not be sent to China, and so perpetuate the worship of the bones.Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10641, 13 February 1903, Page 2
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:14:01 GMT 12
WRECK OF THE S.S. VENTNOR. 500 Chinese Bodies Lost. Captain and Officer Drowned. Third Boat Picked Up. Men Exhausted. Fourth Boat Supposed Capsized. Auckland. October 29. The steamer Ventnor, from Wellington bound to Hong Kong, loaded with the bodies of the resurrected Chinese, struck Cape Egmont (about 200 miles from Wellington) on Sunday night, and foundered off Hokian<*a (north of Auckland, and some 300 miles from Cape Egmont). Two boats with officers and part of the crew landed. The rest of the crew were seen in two boats seven miles out. The steamer Energy has been (sent to their assistance.^ The .Ventnor had 500 Chinese bodies and 6.400 tons of coal aboard. A "Star" special wire states that on Monday, at 12.30 a.m., she struck the rocks southward of Cape Egmont. After a short time she managed to get otfj and proceeded on her vogage. The water gained in No. 1 hold till Tuesday, when the ballast tanks were found "to be full of water, and the steamer was going down by the head. On Tuesday evening she became-unmanageable* and was found to be gradually sinking. About 9 p.m. she was going down fast, and all hands were ordered into the boats. There was barely time to clear before the steamer sank off Hokianga Heads! A light was seen at a distance of about 10 miles. Two boats, containing the chief officer, Mr Cameron, the second and third engineers, and 14 of the crew, landed at Omapere beach at daylight this^ morning. •The third boat's crew from the Ventnor are reported safe . Dunedin, October 29. ] The Ventnor was under charter to the Admiralty to take coal from , Westport to Hong Kong. She belonged o the Ventnor Company, of Glasgow, where she was built in 1901. She was a steel steamer of 3961 tons gross tonnage, and 346 (nominal) horse-power. '■The Alliance Assurance Company had a risk of £4650 on the Ventnor's cargo of bodies, and of this amount j £1806 was reinsured in the South British Office. The bodies came from Greymouth, Wellington, and Dunedin. Wellington, October 29. Of the coffins carried in the Ventnor 489 were insured in the Alliance Company for £5490, and the fungus is insured for about £320 in various offices in Wellington. The Ventuor was four inches light of her marks. As she had not a full load af coal when she arrived from Westport, and as she was on time| charter, the agents despatched heri without waiting for more. - Grey-mouth, October 29. Altogether 177 Chinese bodies or bones "of those bodies were shipped at Greymouth. Some had "been in the cemetery for 20 years, while others had never been interred. The Chinese community, here are in a great state of excitement over the foundering of the Ventnor with the bodies aboard. ; Hokiaxga Heads, Oct 29 (1.30 p.m. ) The s.s. Energy has just returned with the Ventnor's third boats crew, consisting of ten men, six Europeans and four Chinamen. The boat was picked up two miles past Whangape (north of Hokianga). The crew were making for Cape Maria Van Dieman. The boat was half full of water when picked up, and the men were very exhausted, and they had to be lifted on board the Energy. The crew suppose that the fourth boat was capsized. They state that the last they saw of the captain was when he and the third mate jumped overboard together from the sinking steamer. Both are supposed to have been drowned. There are stated to have been eleven men in the missing boat. Oponcxni, Oct. 29 (3p.m.) The Ventnor sunk at 9 p.m. on ! Tuesday. When it was first found the steamer was sinking all hands were ordered into the boats, but they had barely time for clearing before the vessel foundered. Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10568, 17 November 1902, Page 1 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TC19021117.2.23.5
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:15:31 GMT 12
WRECK OF THE S.S. VENTNOR. [Pez United Press Association.] Auckland, October 80. Inspector Cullen was informed by wire that Captain Ferry's boat was still missing. It contains seven of a crew, fire being Chinese passengers. It is thought the missing boat has gone to Ahipara. A light southerly wind would take them in that direction, and where a landing could be effected with safety. There are 27 survivors now at Omapere. The meagre particulars regarding the Ventnor casualty are due to thei inaccessibility of Hokianga. There is infrequent communication, and newspapers so far have been dependent ton the reports o* their country correspondents. From the fact that nothing further has been reported, there is good reason to fear that the loss of the fourth boat is^correct. Later. A wire from Omapere received late yesterday states that there seems a reasonable possibility that theVentnor's missing boat has been picked up by the scow Hawk. Westport, October 30. Captain Ferry, of the wrecked steamer Ventnor, was a native of Glasgow, and his widow and family reside at Southampton. The Ventnor was insured for between £45,000 and £50,000 On her fist voyage, twelve months ago, she was stranded on the. rocks inJapanese waters for 24 hours. Her coal freight was paid as charterers by the Admiralty on completion of the loading, and the charter of the steamer expired with the wreck. Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10554, 31 October 1902, Page 3 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TC19021031.2.14
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:16:31 GMT 12
Wreck of S.S. Ventnor. Missing Boat Washed up. Auckland, November 11. The missing boat frornjthe wrecked steamer Ventnor, with wreckage and numbers of cases, has been washed up on the beach north of Hukatere and this appears to confirm the worst fear 3as to the fate of Captain Ferry and his boat's crew. Later. A boat branded "Ventnor" and "two boxes containing corpses of Chinamen have been washed up opposite Tekao. Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10564, 12 November 1902, Page 4 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=TC19021112.2.20.1&cl=search&srpos=0&e=-------10--1----0--&st=1
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:19:07 GMT 12
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:20:41 GMT 12
TH FOUNDING OF THE S.S. VENTNOR. (Per United Press Association.] ' Auckland, November 4. Mr Canieron, mate of the wrecked steamer Veatnor, states that he was below when the . steamer struck at 1.30 a.m. on Saturday. He found everybody on deck and • land ahead. Number 3 hold was full of water, and the tanks were filling rapidly. The engines were reversed, and the vessel got off and went on at halfspeed. The captain decided to attempt to reach Auckland to secure docking facilities for repairs, as the vessel was not considered in inimedi- [ ate danger. The pumps were worked constantly and kept the; water under until 9 a.m. on Monday, by which time 60 to 70 miles had been traversed. The Ventnor was now down by the head, with five feet of water in the hold. On Sunday afternoon the water showed in the forepeak, and the vessel was down by the head as far as the 'tween decks. The course was then altered with the view to beaching the vessel, but she had become unmanageable. Land was sighted 40 miles south of Hokianga at 2 p.m. The decks were now flush with the water, and the boats were provisioned and ordered to stand by. Ten miles off Hokianga the engines stopped (at 9 o'clock on Sunday night), and the main deck was almost under water. The boats were lowered and manned, and then the side lights disappeared. Two minutes later the Ventnor foundered bow first. As the vessel was sinking the captain stood on the port side, and called out "Shove off,, boys." He then crossed to the other side of the ship where the other boats were. That was the last Mr Cameron saw of the captain. The third mate says the captain and himself jumped overboard. He was uncertain what became of the captain subsequently, but he supposed that the davits struck the captain's boat and capsized it. Someone cried out for a bailer, but there was no cry for help. The third mate's boat picked up three men, but whether from the captain's boat or not is not stated. The third mate's boat had a fearful experience in the breakers before landing at 5.30 a.m. Another account says that the captain stayed on deck with the second engineer when the Ventnor sank. Engineer Baillie states that despite pumping the water continued to rise in the holds, and the angle of the deck was greater every hour. The leak increased greatly between eight and nine o'clock, and the deck was full of water, and the steamer lost buoyancy. As the boats pushed off the sight was awful. The water gradually rose over the deck to the stokehole, when the stern lifted, rising'quickly and more quickly. The steamer then stood upright for three orfour seconds, and sank with a whizzing sound. A jet of flame burst from the funnel as the vessel sank. Kaipara Heads, November 4. The s.s. Sterling returned this morning after a three days' search for the Ventnor's missing boat. She went as far as the North Cape, and nothing was seen of the boat or the crew* Colonist, Volume XLVI, Issue 10558, 5 November 1902, Page 3 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TC19021105.2.13
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:22:44 GMT 12
THE WRECK OF THE VENTNOR. Tha Third Boat Plefcad Up. Th« Fourth Boat Capa!x«d. i Th» Oaptaxln $^nd a Numbs* of the Crew Drowned. (Per United Press Association.). HOKIANGA HEADS, October 29. 1.30 p.m. — The s.s. Energy has just returned with the Ventnor*s third boat's crew, consisting of ten men (six .Europeans *nd four Chinamen). - Jute boat was picked up two miles past Wfaangape (north of HoManea). Tine .crew were making for Cape Mari* Van Diemen. The boat was half full of rater when picked up, and the men *ere very exhausted. They had to be lifted on board the Energy. j The crew suppose that the fourth boat was capsuecL T*bey state that the last they saw of the captain was when he and the third mate jumped overboard , together from the sinking steamer. Both are supposed to have been drowned. There are stated to have been eleven men in the missing boat. OPONONI, 3 p.m. The Ventnor sank at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. When it was found that the steamer was sinking all hands were jrdered into the boats, but had barely •ime for clearing before the vessel foundered. ' ' One of the boats, containing Captain Ferry and two officers, who were the last to leave the steamer, went down alongside the ship, only two of her ?rew being rescued. . The other faoate landed- at- the Klot station. They contained the first officer (Mr Cameron), the) second and third engineers, and 14 of the crew. * ■Th* third boat was picked up by the < Energy, and contained the third officer, Are seamen, and four -Chinese passengers. > , Thei. Vessel Insured for s*S4S,OOO op *350,000. Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10786, 30 October 1902, Page 2 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WH19021030.2.39
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:24:18 GMT 12
THE VENTNOR CASUALTY FINDING OF THE COURT Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M., this morning at the Magistrate's Court g-ave the decision of the nautical enquiry touching the cause of the wreck of the s.s. Ventnor on October 2S, near Kokianga Heads. It will be remembered that the Ventnor was loaded with 6200 tons of coal, and also carried 550 coflin3 containing bones of deceased Chinese- Mr Alex. Rose, Collector of Customs, was in attendance, and Mr Hugh Campbell represented the owners, and first and second officers. A~fter referring to the fact oif the, wreck, the decision stated that it recurred at a point undetermined ex- j actly by the evidence. It was, however, same distance south of Cape Egmont, probably near Opamake, by striking land there, and afterwards by the ship foundering at sea off Hokianga Heads. This foundering was •caused by the breaking in the fore part of the vessel, whereby the fore bulkhead was afterwards damaged, and the sea coming in caused the ship to founder. Continuinjg1, the decision stated: "It is manifest thait if from the point given at ' The Brothers, the given course had been observed, .the vessel would have cleared Cape Egmont, instead of being several miles east thereof. Unfortunately the master find second officer, who was on watch at the time the vessel struck, ore both dead, and the serious charge of drunkenness is made against the master by memibers of the crew, though their statements are contradicted on the point by the surviving officers, engineers and steward. The master and all the officers were strangers to this part of the New Zealand coast, and therefore extra precautions should have been taken to ensure safety. The night of the 26th of October was fine. The position of Cape Egmont was known, there was no necessity to hug the coast, and even assuming the master intended to make Cape Maria Van Diemen his point of departure, his stated course, if correctly laid, would have widely cleared Cape Egmont, but should have been several points more westerly to clear Cap© Maria Van Diemen. A look-out appears to Have been kept, and the presence, of Mt. Egmont is alleged to have been reported on the starboard bow. The bearing- erf this should have convinced the master that he was out of his course- It is said that the compasses had been adjusted very shortly before, but if the compasses were accurate, or their deviation ascertained, it would be impossible for the vessel to strike near Opanake on the •.■curse stated. it is surmised by. some that the boat containing- the master and 12 others was drawn down as the vessel sank. There is no satisfactory evidence to show that it was seen again, and all the other boats got to land. Thirteen lives were lost on the occasion, including- the master, second officer, and chief engineer. It is manifest that owing to negligence, or incompetence, a widely incorrect course was steered, resulting in the striking of the vessel near Opunake. Whether this negligence or incompetence arose from drunkenness there is no sufficient satisfactory evidence to determine, but there can be no doubt that negligence or incompetence was the cause of the disaster. After striking the land, the vessel was readily got off, by going astern, and headed to sea. Proper precautions appear to have been taken as to getting boats ready, provisioning them, taking soundings in the holds, and generally ascertaining the position and providing for contingencies. The question had to be decided whether it was best to turn back to Wellington or proceed round the INorth Cape to Auckland. The forehold of the vessel was much damaged, but ii the fore bulkhead would hold, the voyage to Auckland could be made and the vessel docked. No blame is to be attributed to the master for deciding to proceed to Auckland. He consulted with his officers, and though the attempt was a failure, it is by no means certain that a return to Wellington could have been safely made. From the time of striking on Sunday night until nine p.m. on Tuesday, the 38th of October, the vessel proceeded on her way North, going half speed, and sometimes less than that. Some members of the crew say the master gave way to drink during this time, but the officers, engineers, and the steward say this was not so. On the whole, it' appears that the master did all that could be done for the safety of the ship and crow under the circumstances. At 9 p.m. on the 28th the fore bulkhead gave way under the enormous pressure, the water rushed into the No. 2 hold, and the ship's .company had barely .time to escape in the boats. When the vessel struck at Opunake the second officer was on watch, but the master was on the bridge and in command. The responsibility must rest upon the master alone, and the officers must be exonerated, and their certificates returned to them. Under the circumstances no order will be made as to costs, and no order as to the deceased master's certificate. The Court was unable to ascertain whether the vessel was insured, or for what amount, or what certificate the master held.— (Signed) W. K. Haselden, S.M., J. fl. Clark, and Tho.s. Fernandez, assessors. Mr Cumpbell asked that the officers be allowed their expenses. His Worship: From whom? • Mr Campbell: The Crown, I suppose. Mr Rose objected on the ground that there were really general charges against all the officers until they were exonerated by the Court. It had not been the practice to make any allowances to officers in suck cases. Mr Campbell contended the officers were only present in the capacity of witnesses, and therefore entitled to witness' costs. His Worship said that was a different matter, and had to be settled with the person calling them. He •ldded- "1 would not say any more about costs, Mr Campbell. We have considered the matter, but I don't want to say anything." The Court then adjourned. Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 275, 19 November 1902, Page 5 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=AS19021119.2.42
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:28:11 GMT 12
FOUNDERING OF THE VENTNOR. THE CAPTAIN AND TWO OFFICERS LOST. THE CHINESE BONES GO TO THE BOTTOM. AUCKLAND, October 29. The steamer Ventnor, from Wellington, loaded with bodies of resurrected Chinese, struck a rock eff Cape Egmont on Sunday night, and foundered off Hokianga. ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS. HOW THE VENTNOR STRUCK. HOKIANGA, 10.30 a.m. The steamer Ventnor, which left Wellington for Hongkcaig on Sunday, foundered j off Hokianga Bar last night at about a quarter to 9 o'clock. j The Ventnor left Wellington, as stated, ou Sunday with 500 Chinese bodies and 6400 tons of coaL She was owned by Gow, Harrison, and Co., of Glasgow, her port of register, and was captained by H.- G. Ferry. { Before she had been long out, at 40 ; minutes after midnight on Sunday a shock i which shook the vessel from stem -to stern ' made it manifest to everyone on board that the fteamer had struck a rock, subsequent investigations showing that the reef hit was to the southward of Cape Egmont. I The engines were at once reversed, and ! in a short time the vessel maaiaged to get ' off. The wells were then sounded, and the I vessel a-sg headed off tin) shore to a cafe 1' distance and then proceeded up the coast. Meanwhile the steam pumps were got to work, but from the first it was found that ! they were unequal to, the task of coping 1 with the 'inflow, and gradually the water ! gained, rising higher and higher in the , holds. 1 On Tuesday morning it was found that i the ballast tanks in the peak were full, ; putting the steamer down by the head and • j making it evident that she had but a short • time to float. In the evening her bow was so far under water that she became un• manageable, and it was seen that she was 1 gradually sinking, despite every effort that j could be made. At about 9 p.m. it became ! evident that the vessel was going down fast, ' and all hands were were ordered to the j 'boats. These were launched by their respective crews, who immediately pulled I away from the sides of the doomed vessel. Hardly had they reached a safe distance : when the vessel's stern rose in the air and ' she sank, bow first. j Hokianga Heads light was- seen- at a dis! tance of about Id miles, and, the boats 1 pulled in <he direction of the light! At . daylight this morning two boats* arrived at ' Omapere Beach, beating 14 -of " the crew, j including the chief mate (Joha Cameron), j second and third engineers' (D. Bailie' an:* K. Muir), two cooks and a messman. TVfr Martin (harbourmaster) took the small steamer Energy out of ihe Whangape to pick up two more boats which were sighted 1 from the pilot station. One of these was picked up a$ 10 o'clock, but the other had not been reached at the time of wiring. Besides her crew of 51 persons, including fire Chinese, the Ventnor had six Chinese 1 passengers. The Ventnor is the third vessel i lost on .the west coast within the short | space of five weeks. The name of the j Ventnor became very familiar to the public ' of New Zealand since her jrival in Aucki land from Java on the 22nd inst., owing j to the fact that she was chartered to con- | i vey close upon 500 L bodies of Chinese from j New Zealand, %-ia Hongkong, to China, for reinterment in the Celestial country. The reef on which the Ventnor struck, to the i southward of Cape Egmont, is in the j j vicinity of the reef on which the unfortu- ■uafce barque Lizzie 801 l was wrecked, with i coneidera'ble loss of life, about three years 1 ago. The Lizzie Bell struck on the rocks i j near the mouth of the Oeo River, and an I 1 agitation was set on foot to induce the Goj vernment to erect a lighthouse there. Noi tiling, however, camo of tlie suggestion. The steamer Lord Wolseley was totally | wrecked not far away on the Taranaki ■coast in the sixties. The. following is a/ list of the Ventnor's craw:— Captain, H. G. Ferry; chief officer, j John Cameron; second officer. A. E.Law"-i eon; chief engineer, J. M'Cach; second engineer, D. Bailie; third engineer K. Muir: fourth engineer, R. Taylor; steward.. H.- Mohr; cooks— Ghow 'Ah Chong and Chew Ah Mcc; messroom boy, Jan.- Ah Cheng: donkeyinan, F. Fischer; carpenter; W. Schleyer; crew— H. Wilson. H. Eriokson, G. Lony. C. Johansen, P. !N. Wezem, C Speix, M. Kaiiaguob, W. Tetsupiro, J. Pingoto, P. Mahu; firemen — W. Wagner, €'. Sfcenibach, E. Rannow. G. Van Soppel W. Black, S. M'Dougal, Y. Jussku. ' There are 60 fathoms of water 10 miles off Hokianga Heads, decreasing- gradually to 30 fathoms within three miles from the , par. The place where the sunken steamer j lies appears tc be somewhere about 10 rr.iles from the Jiore, so that she probably lies now in over 300 ft of water. The prospects of any salvage are accordingly out of the question, considering the depth and the exposed locality. HOKIANGA HEADS, 1.30 p.m. The b.s. Energy has just returned with the Ventnor's third boat's crew, consisting of 10 men — six Europeans and four Chinamen. The boat was picked up two miles past Whangape (north of Hokianga). The crew were making for Cape Maria Van Diemen. The boat was half ' full of water when picked up, and the men were very exhausted. They had to be lifted on beard the Energy. The crew suopese that the fourth boat was capsized. They state that the last they saw of the captain was when he and the third mate jumped overboard together from the sinking steamer. Both are supposed to hare been drowned. There are stated to have been 11 men in the missing bomt.- HOKIANGA. October 30. The fourth boat from the Ventnor is still jni-sing. " " AUCKLAND. October 29. The steamer Energy rescued the third boat from the Ventnor, with six Europeans j and four Chinese. The boat was half full iof water. The men were very much ex! hausted. They believe the fourth boat >. capsized. i > They state that the captain and third mate jumped overboard when the Ventnor wa3 fiiukiug. and they believe both were . [ drowned. 1 October 30. A wire from Omapere late yesterdttjt states that there seems to be a reasonable possibility that the Ventnor's missing boafe bad been picked up by Asa scow Hawk. A movement, which those on the vessel observed, was peculiar. The meagre particulars of ihe Ventnor casualty are due to the inaccessibility o£ Hokianga and infrequent communication! therewith. The papers so far are dependent on the reports of country- correspondent. From the fact that nothing further has beent reported there is good reason to fear thab the reported loss of the fourth boat is correct. The Ventnor's missing boat may contain! Captain Ferry, though the third boat's, crew believed him to have been drowned 1 .- The fourth boat apparently combined -about! 10 persons. The first three boats had in a3lf 27. The scow Hawk, which it was supposed might have picked up the fourth boat, has not been heard from. She is bound for. Kaipara, and is fully due there. Inspector Cullen received a wire at 3 p.m. that Captain Ferry's boat is still missing. It contains seven of the crew and! five Chinese passengers. It is thought thab the missing boat has gone to Ahipara. -Thei light southerly wind would- take- -them- ii* that direction, -and landing could be with safety. The boat is a' good lifeboat.. " Twenty-seven survivors are now at_Oma}» pere. October .21. > Charles Roberts, one of the- ■survivors of th© "Ventnor, stetes that" the .Ventnor foundered eight miles from Hokianga Heddsv ' The captain was steering for Oape Maria; ' trying to reach Auckland. Some of the) survivors say they heard Captain Ferry ask for a bucket to bail his boa* when leaving the sinking steamer. Others say that thecaptain's boat was not clear when the steamer foundered. One of the survivors of the' Ventnor stiatea that the fourth lifeboat, containing 13 men, and the dingey, with four hands, cleared I the ship quickly. The chief mate controlled the former, and the latter a was manned by two firemen and two sailoEßv The starboard dingey was manned by the third mate and seven others, while the captain and those missing were in the starboard! lifeboat. Neither boat had any oars out when the vessel foundered. After the shock' of the euotion the captain's boat seemed to !be ewamped. It was dark, and the boats ! were somefdistatace apart. A cry was "heard! j for a bucket, which was not obtainable-. ! The dingey was partly swamped from the I effects of the suction, which necessitated! ; the uso of the bailers. Shortly afterwards a. . Chinaman and a Frenchman were found! I swimming, and were taken on board. "' The I starboard dingey, which was now over* crowded, necessitating the shore being made f failing to make Hokianga, the third mate directed, his boat northwards about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, and- was giokedV-Jro-^jy .tfc» - Energy. The nort boats. Uuccjessfully.^nradi Hokianga, arriving at dayligh I *.' Forronatebje the sea was very smootli,. otherwise^ itr^tquldl have been impossible to negotiate Ifche*Hpki i angA bar in, an open boat. All are in good' Jiealth 1 , -exo&pt'ng the Chinaman, who ( is slightly suffering from - the . effect* of his. ocean swim. The officers^ and crewj lost all their belongings.- The' ship's papers and mail (one bag) were also lost. The tug boat Stirling leaves Kaipara tonight to search for the missing boat from the Ventnor. November 1. The scow Hawk and the barquentine Nep"-, tune have arrived at Kaipara. They report I that tlvey saw nothing of the Ventnor's missing boat. This disposes of the supposition) that the missing boat had been picked up> by the Hawk. November 3. The search for the Ventnor's missing boaS hfn so far been unsuccessful- • A fireman Van Poppel, who is amongefe the missing, is said to be a Belgian nobleman. The mat. (Mr Cameron), interviewed 1 , said the Ventnoi left Wellington at 9.30 oa Sunday morning with fine cleai? weather and a smooth sea. Early on Sun• day afternoon the steamer cleared Cook' Strait, and a course was shaped to carry her five or six miles seaward of Cape Egmont. At 4 o'clock he was relieved by the third mate (Mr Ure). He gave Mr Tire* the course, and told him to keep a look-out for the light at the Cape towards the end of his watch. Mr Cameron then went below at midnight, and the other officer went on wafcoh. ANOTHER, ACCOUNT. OPONONI, 3 p.m. - The Ventnor sank at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays When it was found, the steamer was sinking all hands were , ordered into the boats, but ' had barely time for clearing before' tb* vessel foundered. One- of- the boat*, con* tainiug Captain Ferry and two officers, who' were the last to leave the steamer, wenfcdown alongside the ship, only two of ber crew being rescued. Two other boats landed at the pilot station. They contained the first officer (Mr Cameron), second and! third engineers, and 14- of tbe crew. Th© third boat was picked up by the Energy* and contained the third officer, five -sea* men, and four Chinese passenger. (Fbou Oitb Own Cobbespondbkt.) WELLINGTON, Ootober 29. ' The Chinese in Wellington are greatly* concerned about the loss of .the Ventnor,. with the bones of their countrymen. j The Ventnor had a crew of 31, and nine' Chinese body attendants. The latter were old or decrepit Chinamen, who were sentf Home by the Chong Shing Tong Society,, and given a sum of money sufficient to keep them from work for the remainder of their lives. Of the coffins, 489 were shipped by the Chong Shing Tong Society, which is «i branch of a big society in China called the Tai Chuen. The other 10 coffins were shipped by Yee Chong, of Manners street, and did npt belong to any society. The 5357 tons of Westport Coal on board was valued at £4500. mm - Of the coffins carried by the Ventnor, 489 are insured in the Alliance Company fou £5490, and the fungus is insured for about £320 in various offices in Wellington. ThS Ventnor -was 4in light of her marks, as nofi sufficient coal had arrived from Weatport>» aud as she was on time the charter affenUt despatched her without waiting for more. - October 30. The late Captain Ferry, of the Ventnofy leaves a wife and family residing near LoiK don. In view of the reports circulated tha.fi the vessel was overloaded, Captain Smith, superintendent for the mercantile marine, who was almost the last to leave her befo™' she sailed, declares that everything aboard was in capital condition, the Ventnor being well found in every detail. Ha remarked 'Co -file- captain when going off the vessel: I f*' My word, captain, your vessel is in fine j 'trim, though sue has * slight list to etaxboard." ,When coal-trimmed a vessel would nave fully 2in more freeboard. Captain Smith was particularly struck with the handy appliances for launching boats in case of emergency. One of the seamen (M. Fraser) wh placed on the ship's articles in Wellington. November 3. The inquiry into the wreck of the steamer Vmtnor will be held at Auckland on the feturn of 'the chief officer from a search for the missing boat's crew. NEW November 3. A. Pongarehu message states that the principal keeper of Cap» Egmont lighthouse reports seeing the Ventnor hove-to four miles due west of the lighthouse on Monday last .at daylight. Suspecting that something was wrong, he signalled " B X," meaning, " Has any accident happened?" Although . the flags were flying an hour, no answer was given, and at 6.30 the vessel shaped her course northward. She appeared to be very 'much down by the head. GREYMOUTH, October 29. One hundred and seventy-seven Chinese bodies, 'or bones^and remains of same, were 'shipped at Greymouth. Some had been in the cemetery for 20- 'years, while others Tiad new'been interred. ' The Chinese com-- Triunity here" are in a great state of excitement; over the "foundering of the Vehtnor j-with -the. bodies aboard. '■The Alliance. Insurance Company had .a line of £4650 (of which £1860 was reinsured jwith the-OSouth British). That company Landed £860^0^5 ta riekHo the Standard Insurance 'Company. 'insurance' reoresents. the- amopn^ of- the outlay to .which, the; ■Chinese went in disinterring the bodies and preparing them for shipment. The Ventnor was one of the colliers under charter to the Admiralty to take coal from '"Wertport to the China naval station. She was a new steel steamer of 3961 tone gross. having been built at Glasgow in 1901 for •the Ventnor Shipping Company, of that port. Her length was 3*4 ft ?in, breadth 48ft Bin, and depth of hold 25ft 7in. Her nominal horse-power was 346. WESTPORT, October 3G. Captain Perry, of the Ventnor, was a native of, Glasgow. His wife and' family reeide at Southampton (England). The Vent -nor 'was' insured for between £45,000 and £50,000, and was on her first voyage to this colony. Twelve months ago she was stranded on the rocks in Japanese waters for 24- hours. The coal freight was paid* to the charterers by ' the Admiralty on the completion of her loading, but the time charter of the steamer expired with .the wreck. •«*• FEELING AMONG THE CHINESE IN DUNEDIN. The Chinese in Dunedjn ,were closely -■canning the map of New Zealand on Thursday. Some of them had never seen it before, and it was only after a search that they spotted Hokianga up near the top of 4^e jsheet^ MTbey; (razed long and eagerly at the sea space. . In imagination they probably -caw the' Ventnor lying on the ocean's bed, .with .the, bones of their' soo countrymen 5h her -hold ;c-but; c - but --whether that- was- the^ trend- of~-.iheir-thoughts or not, .they all appear to realise that .there is no hope of cecovering -anything from -the vessel, especially ai it* position* is undefined.' Even' if the vessel breaks; up the cases would not come' to the -surface, ac each of them contains a considerable weight. The occurrence ss» of coarse, regarded as most unfortunate, and many of the Chinese, their faces sober •t any time, now wear countenances on -which is very plainly expressed the great depth of their feelings, amounting almost to alarm. It is the first time anything oi. the sort has happened to a vessel carrying to the Flowery Land the bones of their fellows. Twenty-one years ago the Hoi How sailed from the colony with the first consignment of remains, consisting of the bones of about 220 Chinamen, and reached her haven safely. No vessel has come to the colony since that date, and it was in the Ventnor that the bones, and in a few cases the bodies, of the Chinese who have died subsequent to that year were being taken away, like the Hoi How's cargo, for reinterment in China. The peace of mind, therefore, of the Chinese residents of Otago, indeed of New Zealand, is considerably disturbed at the- present time, and, as a matter of fact, it is a subject on which the majority of them will, when questioned, say very little. The iere intelligent of them it w useless to approach, for atrany time they are not communicative, and now they will say absolutely nothing. That was the experience of one of our reporters who mixed with a number of them on Thursday. Cape Egmont was also located om, the snap, and a matter concerning which much surprise was expressed is that, the vessel, after striking, did not at once make for Jfew Plymouth or return to Wellington. ' The Ventnor had on board the remains of 265 Chinese from Dunedin, _ inducting those of the "late Mr Ah Ching and the late Mr Sew Hoy. These, together with 11 cases of personal effects of the dead men, were shipped by the Bimu to Wellington, where they were transhpiped to the Ventnor. The coffins containing the remains of the Chinamen who had died comparatively recently ■were zinc-lined cases, which were soldered up and placed within outer kauri shells made of liin wood, and securely screwed together and varnished ; while the remains of those whose decease had occurred some years ago were placed in mbstantiallv-made cases of a somewhat smaller size. The remains of Messrs Sew Hoy and Ah Ching . were, however, graced with coffins of the customary Enelish style, but built of handsomely-polished rimu. Otago Witness , Issue 2538, 5 November 1902, Page 30 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=OW19021105.2.85&cl=search&srpos=0&e=-------10--1----0--&st=1
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Post by NZBC on Oct 18, 2012 18:30:24 GMT 12
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Post by NZBC on Dec 8, 2012 17:43:40 GMT 12
DISINTERMENT OF CHINESE. With regard to disinterred Chinese, full and gruesome details of the wholesale disinterment of Chinese at Greymou'b, have been published of late in the news papers and the Acting Premier was asked by Mr G W Russell what steps are being taken to protect the colony in the matter. The Acting Premier said the disinterments were being made under license granted" by the Colonial Secretary, pursuant tojthe terms to the C* metaiie3 Act, 1882. The license peracribed the conditions to b 9 observed and tho3e conditions were|sufficieut to prevent any danger to the public. The conditions were read out by Sir Joseph Ward and included gprovisiou that the hours of disinterment should be from daylight to noon that bafore leaving off work eich day the grave should be filled up and the coffins hermetically sealed, aa all ciuse of nuisance removed tha remain' exnumed should be placed in cases hermetically sealed that disinfectants shonld be used during the exhumation that the coffins when removed, should ba if possible, so disposed that they cv no t be a nuisance or a source of annoyance. These directions to b 8 carried out under the immediate super versiou of the sexton. He had not received any complaints in regard to the matter, and he thought if there had been any cause for complaint, those on the spot would have done so. He did not recollect receiving a resolution from the Greymouth Borough Council on the subject West Coast Times , Issue 12311, 20 September 1902, Page 3 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WCT19020920.2.14&srpos=1&e=-------10-WCT-1----0chinese+disinterment--
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Post by NZBC on Dec 8, 2012 17:44:31 GMT 12
From the Colonial Secretary, authorising disinterment of four Chinamen. Received, and referred to the Board of Health West Coast Times , Issue 12052, 28 October 1901, Page 4
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