Fears that Tongariro may slip

The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer, Tongariro, wrecked on Bull Rock, near Mahia Peninsula, midway between Gisborne and Napier. - Otago Witness, 6.9.1916.
The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer, Tongariro, wrecked on Bull Rock, near Mahia Peninsula, midway between Gisborne and Napier. - Otago Witness, 6.9.1916.
It is feared that the Tongariro which struck Bull Rock off the Mahia Peninsula two days ago may slip off the rock and become a total loss.

The Koutunui must have been in the locality at the time of the mishap. The weather was fine and the sea calm. The Koutunui, when seen by the Arahura, had two empty lifeboats in tow.

Advice received from the manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company yesterday states that the vessel has not sunk.

She is lying about two miles east from Bull Rock, and appears to be in a very dangerous position, lying to the open sea and exposed to the north-east winds. The Koutunui is standing by, and another small vessel, the Tu Atu is approaching.

The S.O.S. call was responded to by the Westralia at Gisborne, and by the Arahura at Napier. Both vessels left immediately for the scene.

The Westralia arrived first. She found all the members of the crew on the Koutunui, a Richardson Company coaster. The Westralia took 78 on board for Napier.

The captain, the first officer, the second officer, the first, second, and third engineers, and six members of the crew stood by for examination of the position by daylight.

When the Westralia left the Tongariro she was still afloat, her bow being supported by Bull Rock. Water was in all the holds and the engine room, and the vessel had a heavy list to port, with 26 fathoms of water under her stern.

The seas were breaking over the bow. There was no panic. Only the boats on the port side could be used. One was smashed and her five men thrown into the sea.

Another was capsized through a davit breaking, but her occupants were all rescued. The shock was very severe; it brought the vessel to a dead stop with a terrific noise.

The scene of the wreck is 5½ miles N.N.E. of Portland Light. Some of the men received minor injuries, but there were no serious casualties.

A member of the crew said that the captain was on the bridge at the time. The crew were in the boats for three hours, and they returned to the vessel three times in case anyone was left behind.

It is stated that the cargo totals 8000 tons and includes 150,000 in bullion. Salvage operations can be successfully conducted, even if the vessel sinks.

•Some interesting figures quoted last week by the Minister of Education (the Hon. J. A. Hannan) show that comparatively few women teachers in New Zealand remain long enough in the profession to qualify for the higher positions in schools.

The men have in general much longer service and greater experience, and it is therefore only natural that a high proportion of them should be found in the higher positions.

Of the women teachers in the dominion, only 3 per cent are over 35 years of age; while 30 per cent are over 30, and 4 per cent are under 30 years of age.

Putting it another way, 1000 out of 1800 men, and 792 out of 2217 women are over 35; and 300 women are between 35 and 40.

Seventeen per cent of the men and only 4 per cent of the women have A or B (the highest certificates) ; while 67 per cent of the men and only 35 per cent of the women hold C certificates.

In some districts the proportion of men teachers to women teachers is remarkably low. In South Canterbury, for example, there are 39 men to 100 women teachers, while in Hawke's Bay the proportion is 50 men to 100 women teachers.

In the larger districts, however, where necessarily a greater proportion of the best teachers is to be found, the number of men teachers is much nearer the number of women teachers.

In Wellington, for instance, the proportion is 80 men to 100 women teachers, and in Auckland it is 83 to 100.

- ODT, 1.9.1916.

COPIES OF PICTURE AVAILABLE FROM ODT FRONT OFFICE, LOWER STUART ST, OR WWW.OTAGOIMAGES.CO.NZ

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