A PERILOUS VOYA GE.

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 16, 19 January 1901, Page 5

A PERILOUS VO YA GE.

The Q»race Hawar, from Capetown, arrived safely in Gisborne on the afternoon of the 16th, after a very rough voyage of three weeks from Dunedin. Ino appearance of the vessel gave evidence ol the rough handling she had received, her mizzen topmast and main topgallantmast .having been carried away. On Christmas Day the strong wind, after the vessel had passed Taiaroa Heads, increased to a howling gale.. By li p.m. tllfe gale had reached a terrible height, being accompanied by a high cross sea. TBe vessel shipped a terrific sea at this time, which completely filled the decks, and took three of the iour boats with it, as well as the pkids, the bridge, the standard compass, and nearly everything movable on deck before it. The Grace Itarwar came -in biillas't. While being Swept by terrific seas, this shifted, and threw the boat on her beam ends. Some idea of hei position majf Be gained from the fact that her lee rail was 3ft under water. .Tho keel of the ship could at the same time be seen on the' weather side. The men, t6 g6t from end to endof the vessel, ha 4 to clamber along the weather side. The lee yardarms were all this time 10ft under water! To right the ship the mizzen topmast was cut away, but notwithstanding ah 1 that could be done, the .vessel still remained' in her awful position at 6 o'clock the following morning, the captain's i cabin being half -filled with water, and his chtfri^ beipg swept aVay. All hands were turned out to go below' and commence the work of trimming the ballast. The gale moderated at noon, but ' there was still a very high sea running, and the water was^fovr or five fefet above lie starboard rails. Next day. the weather Jpegan to .moderate. The crew, worked night and day trimming, and, next day the weather improved, and the effect of the mcii's work became apparent, ihe ' lee side commencing to rise. Ballasttrimminj tyasr continued with' good results on thfc 28th and2pth,.the ship rising , still further on the 30th, the deck on .the Jee side" by fits time being quite dry. Up till the 9th inst. was decupied .in dealing the rigging and making things shipshape. Variable wjnds were experienced theiicff till tfie 16th, when the vessel arrived dff Taumdtbu Island, and' was sighted by the steamer" Fanny and towed into Gisborne Haroour. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PItESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, 18th January. Mr. Pasley, the Collector of Customs, held an enquiry into the loss of the man EckhVrd from the ship Grace Harwar on 26th- Debember, while she was caught in a^ at6rm" off' Hawke's B'ay\ The captain said ■ he sfcw deceased 1 hanging on by the weaihetf mainbraCe, and ordered him- aftj to the poop ladder, which he tried to reach, but slipped. Htf was last seen when overboard taking off one of his boots. It was impossible, owing to the heavy sea "which was running, to save himi This evidence waa substantiated by three inembera of the" crew.

The committee of the Wellington Amateur Swimming Club is making great' 'preparations to' ensure the buccess of its annual carnival. Two to three hundred forms have been procured for seating accommodation. The City Brass Band will play a selection of music during the after, noon, and there will be various side shows. At the Mount Cook Police Station this morning, before Mr. E. M'Kenzie, J.P., two. first-offenders were convicted for drunkenness, and discharged ; and Margaret. Lamplough, an old' offender, was fined 5$ or 24 hours imprisonment. The Acting - Premier leaves for the South- to-morrow. On Monday he wiL lay the \ foundation-stone of the nct\ Post Office at Ashburton. He will then go on to Dunedin in order to be present at the reception of the troopers returning by the Orient. It is his intention to return to Wellington by the Orient. In all probability he will travel from Wellington to Auckland by the troopship Cornwall in order that, he may attend the farewell to the Sixth Contingent.