NGAHAU CROSSES SUMNER BAR

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20955, 8 September 1933, Page 8

NGAHAU CROSSES SUMNER BAR

ARRIVAL IN ESTUARY LAST EVENING TRANSPOKT OF BIG BOILER TO WOOLS TON . With the lull force oi a .strong flood tide behind her, and with her engines driving at full speed, the auxiliary scow Ngahau, laden with the big boiler for the factory of Davis Gelatine (N.Z.), Ltd., at Woolston, successfully crossed the Sumner bar at 5.5 p.m. yesterday, and, threading her way up the tortuous channel of the estuary, dropped anchor off the Mount Pleasant jetty 35 minutes later, just at dusk. The crossing .and the trip up the estuary were witnessed by many hundreds? of spectators, and there was a string of motor-cars extending from the Cave Rock at Sumner to the Heathcote bridge. It was the intention of Captain G. Carey, master of the Ngahau, to cross the bar this morning, but conditions became so favourable during the day that early in the afternoon it was decided to make the crossing on the late afternoon tide. That the spring tides are now decreasing was also taken into consideration.

The Ngahau left the wharf at Lyttelton at 3.20, drawing about five feet nine inches aft. The trip down the harbour was without incident, and the little vessel was first sighted from the Cave Rock when off Taylor's Mistake at 4.35. She came on slowly, evidently waiting for the tide, and was convoyed by the lifeboat Rescue 11. At 4.55 she stood in to the bar. 'There was no swell, but the sea was breaking on either side of the channel. Standing well out from the beacon, the Ngahau made the actual crossing at what was for her a fast speed, probably 10 knots. Safely across, the little vessel headed up towards Shag Rock.

It was announced before the scow left Lyttelton that she would probably anchor for the night , near the rowing club's shed at Monck's Bay, but the crossing was madfc in such good time that Captain Carey decided to continue up the river. The scow stood away along the New Brighton shore until off Fishermen's Point, and then changed her course to a channel in the middle of the estuary. After passing Rat Island a sharp turn was made to port, and when within 150 yards of the tramway embankment, the course was again altered to parallel with the embankment until the anchor was dropped a cable's length from the Mount Pleasant jetty. Too much credit cannot be given to the master of the scow, Captain Carey, and to the pilot, Mr Aubrey Round, the well-known Redcliffs and Lyttelton yachtsman, for the masterly manner in which the Ngahau was handled during the crossing of the bar and the navigation of the estuary. It is understood that, contingent on the safe delivery of the boiler at its works at Woolston, the Davis Company is contemplating the purchase of another boiler of the same type, which will be delivered in the same manner.