THE AWANUI-PARTICULARS OF HER STRANDING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXV, Issue 231, 27 September 1894, Page 4

THE AWANUI-PARTICULARS OF HER STRANDING.

The schooner Awanui arrived about six .•'clock this morning, from Gisborne, via l'.&sb Coast ports. She left Gisborne on tUe Otb, but had to lay in the bay three

days, and even after sailing she had to put back owing to tbo thick, weather, and co "■ did nob get away finally bill the lObb. On Monday, the 17th, after working the ports up to the Eaat Cape, she rounded; the Cape and put; in to Hicks' Bay on the Tuesday. The same day, when abeam of Cape Runaway, tho wind at the time being very strong from the east, the schooner gibbing, the main boom carried away, and she ran in nnder the Cape and anchored, where the damage was repaired On the Wednesday the wind increased in violence, and the Awanui began to drag. The big anchor was let go, and 60 fathoms of cable paid our. The wind lulling towards evening, Captain Skinner expected a change, and one anchor was hove and the sails reefed. This work was hardly completed when the wind sprang up from the north, and soon increased to hurricane force, while a tremendous sea came bumbling into tho Bay, Being unable to banl up the anchor, the cable was slipped, and efforts made to get out to sea. The wind, however, changed round to the N.W., and coming on in hurricane force, split the fore stay-sail and mainsail. The Awanui would nob now come up to the wind, and ,as ib was impossible to wear her the anchor was gob ready and soundings taken. Capb. Skinner seeing that she was bound to go ashore, when the man at the line called out) five fathoms, had the anchor dropped, but failing to hold ib libble impeded the progress of the Awanui ashore, and she swung round bow firsb on to the rocks near Waihou, close under Oreti Point, when her bow sticking fast a wave lifted her stern and carried it round, wedging tho vessel into a sort of crevice. This happened about nine o'clock at nigbb, the tide being at the time full. The weather moderating next day, the cargo and ballast were landed on the rock 3, and on the Saturday at high tide the schooner was successfully floated by, lifting her with empty barrols andjjy hedging. All the men speak in the highest tenPß of praise of tho coolness displayed by Captain Skinner in what was a inoab trying position. The sails were mended and cargo again taken in and a abarb made again on Sunday afternoon for this port. Several places were called at on the way, and the wharf was made as above. The schooner, besides the loss of her keel, is considerably scraped, and will on discharge be taken up on Messrs Henderson and Spraggon's slips for repairs. The Awanui haa the following cargo :— 104 hides, 67 packages tallow, 8 bundles. skins, 1 bale and 2 bags wool, 8 casks whale oil, 283 sacks maize, 9 pigs, 11 fowls, and 139 sacks and packages sundries.