ATTEMPTS TO REFLOAT THE HAWEA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 138, 10 December 1908, Page 8

ATTEMPTS TO REFLOAT THE HAWEA.

Fully one thousand people assembled on the south tiphead on Saturday evening (reports the Grey Star) to watch the attempt to refloat the stranded steitmer Hawca. Extensive prenarations had been made for the eflort to drag tJie- vessel off. A Harbour Board's locomotive had been stationed on the southern tiphead and to this a rope from the vessel was attached. Similarly a connection was made to four powerful locomotives st;--lioncd near the cattle wharf. At a given signal from Mr. Daniels both the steam tugs Terawhiti and Webtliind and the engines commenced to pull, and the movement at once had an effect on the stranded vessel, which moved over three feet, and commenced and appeared to be afloat fore and alt. At the critical moment, however, several of the hawsers gave way, and although new ones were connected up a similar result followed later on, and the effort had to be abandoned. So far, nothing definite has been decided as to future operations, but it is regarded as certain that another attempt will be made to refloat the vessel.