ARAHURA REFLOATED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 4

ARAHURA REFLOATED

. > TRIP SAFELY COMPLETED VESSEL TO GO ON SLIP (P.A.) NELSON, Sunday. The Anchor Shipping Company's steamer Arahura, 1607 tons, which ran aground in thick weather on Cape Stephens, the northernmost point of D'Urville Island, at 3.45 yesterday morning on her Avay from Wellington to Nelson, later swung round and refloated on the evening tide. This was five hours after the Arahura had appeared to be wedged hard and fast, and it was found that the little water that was entering the hull could easily be controlled by pumps. The coming of daylight disclosed the vessel's position and showed how fortunate it had been in grounding at that particular spot. On both sides were rocks and ahead, only about 200 yards away, was a beach backed by steeply rising hills. About 9 a.m. the passengers on the beach entered the lifeboats, which were towed out to the ship by launch and were re-embarked by means of a Jacob's ladder. Leaving the anchorage about 1.30 p.m., the Arahura steamed to French Pass, picked up the remaining passengers and mails, and at 4.8 p.m. resumed the voyage to Nelson. A large crowd gathered on the wharf to watch the arrival of the ship. The crowd joined with the passengers, who showed little signs of their exciting experience, in cheering the master, officers and' crew. Except for a slight list to starboard the Arahura looked-little the worse for her mishap. After precautionary repair work the steamer sailed at 10 a.m. to-day for Wellington, where she will go on the slip to have the extent of the damage determined.