THE SINKING OF THE TAIAROA
SUNDAY 11 APRIL 1886
AFTER RUNNING AGROUND AT THE MOUTH OF THE CLARENCE RIVER, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND
The steamer Taiaroa, bound from Wellington to Lyttelton, Akaroa and Dunedin went ashore near the Clarence River on Sunday 11 April 1886 during sudden heavy weather.
The Taiaroa carried 48 persons — 20 passengers (4 women and 16 men including a child) and 28 crew (including a stewardess). The four lifeboats were launched but only one made it to shore safely. All 11 persons onboard the Captain’s lifeboat made it safely ashore after sailing up the Wairau Rover and landing at Blenheim. This group consisted of the Captain, seven crew and 3 passengers. Three other passengers made it ashore including GRANT, McQUIRTER and HUTTON.
One aspect of this tragedy is that of the 34 who were drowned, only nine bodies were ever recovered. Five are buried at the Kekerengu Cemetery, three at Woodbank and one at Flaxbourne. Passenger lists did not exist and the following lists are taken from newspaper reports of the day.
| CAMPBELL | Duncan | Chief Steward | Crew |
| DALRYMPLE | Samuel | Engineer | Crew |
| GRANT | Gordon | Sergeant AC Force | Passenger |
| HARPER | John | - | Passenger |
| HENDERSON | Robert | - | Passenger |
| HUTTON | Gilbert | Civil servant of Wellington | Passenger |
| MACKAY | John | AB | Crew |
| McQUARTIER | William Henry (Also referred to as John) | AC Force | Passenger |
| MORRISON | Robert | - | Crew |
| OLLIVER | Thomas | - | Crew |
| QUIN | William | Ships Boy | Crew |
| TAIN | William | Fireman | Crew |
| THOMSON | George Urquhart | Captain | Crew |
| WEBB | James | Ships carpenter | Crew |
| ANDERSON | Mrs | - | Passenger |
| BROWN | M A (Female) | Stewardess ? | Crew |
| FERGUSON | James | of Taranaki | Passenger |
| FIELDER | Joseph | Chief Steward | Crew |
| FITZGERALD | Mrs | Wife of editor of Timaru Herald | Passenger |
| GALBRATH | Erskine Mr | - | Passenger |
| GAME | Jessie Mrs | - | Passenger |
| GIBBS | Mrs | - | Passenger |
| HANSEN | Peter | AB | Crew |
| HARBORD | Mr | - | Passenger |
| HAWKINS/HAWKINSON | Mr | Bootmaker | Passenger |
| HILL | D | Lamp trimmer | Crew |
| IRVINE | Robert | Fireman | Crew |
| KANE | J | Fireman | Crew |
| MARTIN | Alexander | - | Passenger |
| McDONOUGH | George | Fireman | Crew |
| McMILLAN | P | AB | Crew |
| McPHEE | John | AB | Crew |
| MONKMAN | Robert Boyle | Chief Officer | Crew |
| MURRAY | - | Passenger | |
| POWELL | James | 2nd Officer | Crew |
| SMITH | Mr | - | Passenger |
| SPOONER | R | Purser | Crew |
| STRATFORD | George | 2nd Engineer | Crew |
| UNWIN | R | Fireman | Crew |
| VALLANCE | Robert Hugh | From Canada | Passenger |
| WARD | Mr | AC Forces | Passenger |
| WEST | Carpenter | Crew | |
| WILLIAMS/WILLIAMSON* | Richard/D | AB | Crew |
The crew list also included two un-nanmed stewards and passengers were said to include an un-named young boy, an un-named Chinaman and possibly Mr PENTENGELL, a well-known boxer.
*Reports give crew member Richard WILLIAMSON at the wheel, but crew lists give a D WILLIAMS. Is this the same person?
Also see TAIAROA - for further information and newspaper reports.
Sources
The Marlborough Express — April 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 1886
New Zealand Shipwrecks 1795-1975 By C W N Ingram
FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES