FLOATED OFF.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 136, 12 June 1933, Page 3

FLOATED OFF.

MISHAP TO VESSEL.

FOXTON RUNS ON SANDSPIT.

AT MOUTH OF WAIMAKARIRI,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CIIRISTCHURCHj this day,

1 lio motor vessel Fox ton ran aground on the north spit at the mouth of the YVaiinakariri Kiver at six o'clock on Saturday evening. i lie \ essel was floated ofl' this morning. She entered the river, anchoring at Kairaki, and will go up to Ivaitpoi at high tide this evening. Ihe Foxton was inward bound from Wellington to the port of Kaiapoi. She had v crossed the bar successfully, but m making the sharp turn :nto the "mouth of the river caught the tail of the north spit. An unsuccessful attempt was made to refloat the Foxton at high tide yesterday morning, and another attempt was made at high water in the evening, when the tide was higher than in the morning. In addition to using the vessel's engines an effort was made to kedge her clear, but she did not move. There was no wind and very little swell, so the Foxton was in no danger. The master, Captain A. G. Baggett, said lie hoped to get the vessel clear on the tide to-morrow morning. It was thought that she would suffer no damage, as she was specially built to work bar harbours. However, it was realised that if a big north-easterly or south-easterly swell were to arise her position might be serious. The Foxton lias on board a.small cargo of whale oil for the twine works near Kaiapoi. She is a vessel of 224 tons and is owned by the Canterbury Steam Ship. Company. She was built by Mr. G. T. Niccol at Auckland in 1029.