WRECK AT TIMARU.

Bruce Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 1758, 15 June 1886, Page 3

WRECK AT TIMARU.

The ship Lyttelton, which partially loaded at Dunedin, and proceeded to Timaru to take in the rest of her cargo, waa wrecked at the latter place on Saturday morning. The tug Grafton waa made fast to the ship at 8 o'clock, in order to tow her out to sea, which was then smooth, with a long Bwell rolling into the bay. When clear of the buoys, the Grafton took a short turn, and slackened up the towline. The ship went straight on. The towline fouled the propellora of the tug, and prevented her keeping up a steady atrain. The anchor of the ship was let go, and ifc is supposed that when towing was recommenced ahe must have struck on one of th 9 flukes, tearing a hole in her side. The ship rapidly filled, and settled down by the head . Aa the water came up to the furnacea of the refrigerating apparatus, immense volumes of steam rose from the funnels. During the afternoon, the sea smashed np the deck-houses and cabin fittings, and it is said burst the after-hatch open. She drifted a couple of ship's lengths ahorewards, and now lies embedded some S or 10ft in the bottom. At low tide the water is flush with her bulwarks fore and aft. The vessel haa been abandoned to the underwriters, and she is to be sold by auction as she lies to-day. The ship Lyttelton waa bnilt at Port Glasgow in 1878, and was classed 100 Al at Lloyd's. She was a regular trader to the colony . Her total cargo ia valued at £23, 000, and the insurances amount to £13,488. Timaru, June 14, Ihe preliminary inquiry into the wreck of the Lyttelton was commenced this afternoon at two o'clock before the Collector of Customs. The vessel still rests on an even keel, but the waves are washing over her. Mr Marchant, Engineer of the Harbor Board, while taking soundings, came across something about ten chains from the ship shorewards, but he does not know yet what it is — whether the Lyttelton's anchor, some wreckage, or a rock. ——■—mo—— a———