THEFTS FROM TRAWLER

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27375, 14 June 1954, Page 8

THEFTS FROM TRAWLER

VESSEL STRANDED ON WAIKANAE BEACH

ATTEMPT AT REFLOATING PLANNED

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 13.

Equipment and stores valued at more than £lOO have been stolen from the trawler Phyllis, which lies stranded on the Waikanae beach.

When the owners arrived to inspect the vessel on Saturday, it was found that several doors and'the engine-room skylights had been forced open. An electric drill valued at £l5, and many expensive tools were taken from the engineroom, together with all the tinned stores aboard.

Many hundreds of sightseers have visited the scene of the stranding, and those who have trespassed on the ves-4 sei were warned that they were liable to prosecution. Accompanying the owners on Saturday was a salvage engineer who, after examining the Phyllis, expressed his confidence that she would be refloated on the next spring tide. As the vessel’s stern is slowly swinging round to a broadside position on the beach, it is hoped to arrest any further movement with a «kedge anchor placed several fathoms out to sea, and attached to the stern with wire hawsers.

It is planned to excavate under the hull, which is embedded in the sand to a depth of six feet, and pass two chains underneath which will be fastened to large wooden rafts on either side. The rafts, which will be almost the’length of the stranded trawler, will be constructed on the beach.

The next spring tide is due in about two weeks, and it is hoped to have all excavations and preparations completed by then. If sufficient buoyancy is created by the rafts, steam will then be raised abqard the trawler, and with the aid of tne kedge anchor and the after winch, it is hoped to drag the ship into deeper water.