STEAMER AGROUND.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18673, 23 April 1926, Page 11

STEAMER AGROUND.

MISHAP AT GISBORNE. (special to "th« press.") GISBORNE, April 22. When trying to enter the Wairoa River yesterday, the llichardson steamer Tangaroa grounded near.the entrance: All. endeavours to get. the vessel off the sandbank failed, and at low tide she was high and. dry, close to the eastern pier. The sea is moderate at present, and the vessel in the meantime is not in danger. Fortunately the Tuatu was at the wharf. She has now gone to the assistance of the stranded vessel. All cargo is being unloaded on to.the beach in an endeavour to lighten the vessel, which is stated to be slightly damaged. Cargo will have to be taken across the beach and loaded from the pier into the Tuatu and thence brought to the Wairoa wharf. As : the river entrance faces directly south, the vessel will be in clanger if a southerly gale occurs. Every endeavour will be made to get the Tangaroa off at high tide, but the prospects are not considered bright. This is stated to be the first accident ever experienced by Captain Anderson in his 26 years of working the port, sometimes under most trying conditions. The Tangaroa is ft vessel of 196 tons, owned by the Richardson Shipping Co., and trading regularly between Napier and Wairoa. The mishap occurred while the vessel was crossing the bar at 12.30 o'clock yesterday afternoon, a ware swinging the ship on to the tail of the eastern spit after she had actually crossed the bar. The vessel is lying fast in a soft bed of shingle, and is listing slightly seawards.

The cargo consists of 18.000 feet of timber consigned to Mr E. P. Williams, and. 20 tons of general cargo. The general cargo was successfully discharged at low tide, but the operations had to cease at half-flood. The vessel is in a good position for refloating, and had she proceeded another 20 yards would have been in the river. A heavy hawser has been carried from the bow of the vessel to the western wall, and it is hoped that the tide will cut away enough of the sand to enable her to be hauled off at high tide in a few days.