The Wreck of the Hawea.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 139, 13 June 1888, Page 8

The Wreck of the Hawea.

! THE INQUIRY.

CAPTAIN HANSBY'S ACCOUNT OF

THE OCCURRENCE,

New Plymouth, this day,

The official inquiry into the stranding of of the s.s. Hawea is proceeding here to-day before the Collector of Customs. Captain Hansby cays he anchored off the breakwater about 11 o'clock on Monday night when the weather was squally with a chopping sea. At 5.30 o'clock on Tuesday morning he prepared to go into harbour, and hove in about fifteen fathoms of cable. The Gairloch was close by, and just before entering he stopped the vessel and reversed her engines to let the Gairloch go in first. He then came in with the leading lights a little open to the Westward. When he saw breakers on the beach off the end of the breakwater he starboarded the helm. When abreast the bank he put the helm hard aport to haul up to the wharf and put the engines at half speed. He saw the was not answering her helm on account of the fresh breeze on her broadside, and he then stopped her engines, let go the starboard anchor, and went a-head slow with the helm hard aport, thinking the anchor would check herVj bow to windward. She came round, a couple of points when he felt the vessel touch in her keel lightly off. He went half speed as he thought she had touched the bank. Immediately after he felt her strike heavily a second time and saw that her way had been stopped He sounded the wells and found that she was not making water. About 8.30 the cable of the starboard anchor parted, and the vessel drifted to where she now is, and gob aground. At hiyh water the forehold was filled with water. He got the passengers and crew ashore. THE OFFICERS AND CREW. The officers and crew will be paid off here, and most of them will leave for the South in the s.s. Wanaka on Saturday. Some of the crew went off to the vessel this morning but could get nothing belonging to them. The cabins and engine rooms are full of water. Some think that serious injury has been done to the vessel's bottom by the way in which she has sunk since stranded. The captain and chief mate were the last to leave the vessel. She cost £35,000, and was built in 1875. She had been in Now Plymouth Harbour before at the same state of the tide, which was two-quarters flood. The boat's usual draught was from 12 feet 6 inches to 13 feet. There were 14 feet under her bow when the cable parted, with 18 fathoms of cable out. The vessel drifted into the 12 fathoms line, where she now is submerged. She did not overrun her anchor. The chief mate, William Waller, was next called upon to give evidence. His evidence was similar to the captain's. HOPES OF SAVING THE VESSEL The Hawea shows no signs of having moved. She is upright, and has not bumped in the least. Opinions are expressed that she can be easily floated,as she is in no way strained.