Ships and the Sea

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 124, 21 November 1931, Page 23

Ships and the Sea

DRIFTING SAND

DAGGERS AT KAIPARA

A MUCH-NEEDED LIGHT

On the northern side of the entrance to Kaipara Harbour on the west coast of the North. Island is the Kaipara Heads Lighthouse, situated in an utter wilderness of drifting sand. Fur very many years Kaipara was the biggest timbffr exporting port in the colony, sailing vessels ( coming in large numbers from overseas for cargoes of kauri timber. Such was the extent of •trade that the Government maintained a signal station at the outer heads, and at Pouto Point, just inside the entrance, were stationed a harbourmaster, a pilot, and two boatmen. •.

Although there is a wide extent of «ea between tho North and South Heads there is only one narrow channel on the northern side that is at all safe for shipping. ■ This channel, called the Galatea Channel after the barque Galatea, which entered tho harbour in 1850, runs between the' North Spit and an extensive sandbanlc known as the Tory Shoal. Owing to the dangerous nature of the.bar, which is a .considerable' distance seaward of the entrance, it was advisable that ships should enter or leave the port only in daylight Tvhe'n they would be able to maltc use of the beacons which were erected high up on the sand hills on the North Head. However, with the growth of trado the demand for a light to mark tho entrance soon was made, as it was coiisidorod- that vessels arriving off the entrance at night were frequently blown away when waiting for morning, ■whereas with a light they could, with a reasonable degree of safety, attempt the entranco at any hour. Time, however, has proved that even with a light the entrance to the harbour was fraught with considerable risk, and perusal of the list of casualties near tho liarbour entrance will show that the North Spit was aptly named "the Graveyard," a name by which it bceamo known to those trading to the port. In the "Canterbury Press" of I lie 3rd June, 1881, it was stated by the master of the Torea that thero was much need of a- light to mark the entrance to Kaipara, and that tho James A. Stewart, which had been recently lost with all hands, could scarcely have been lost;had the place been properly marked with beacons. Following the loss of the Eona the demand for a light increased, and finally in June, 1883, an order for a light was sent to England.

TROUBLESOME SAND.

Owing to the continually drifting sand tho selection of a site with a suitable foundation was a vei-y difficult matter, but one was eventually found on a small outcrop of sandstone by Mr. Blackett, tho Marine Engineer, and Captain Johnston, of tho Marine Department. In anticipation of the arrival of the light from England, the work of erecting the tower and dwellings was immediately proceeded with as.soon as the necessary material had been landed by the Stella. Most people who have.been at the seaside have experienced a windy day with the sand blowing about, but next day the sand has probably come to rest. At Kaipara Heads, however, it never comes to rest, and consequently all workmen had to bo supplied with goggles in an endeavour to keep the sand out of their eyes.

Aa no shingle was obtainable at hand, broken metal had to be brought.from Mount Eden at Auckland to construct the foundation of tho tower to carry the light. The lantern for the top of the tower was made by James Milne and Son, of Edinburgh, and shippod from England by the s.s. Florida in January, 1884, arriving in the colony just as tho tower was ready to receive it. Messrs. Dove and Co. constructed the machine for driving the apparatus, which latter was constructed by Messrs. Barbier and Fenestre.

The apparatus and machine were shipped from England by tho s.s. lonic in June, 1884, and by the Ist December the work had progressed so far as to enable the light to be first exhibited on that date.

The light is of tho second order dioptric white light giving a flash every ten seconds. It is shown from a tower 44 feet high situated 278 feet above sea level and visible 23 miles.

The first keeper to have charge of Kaipara Heads light was Mr. Martin Nelson.

CASUALTY LIST.

The following is a list of wrecks in the locality:— 28/2/69: Schooner Little Prod, 131 tons, stranded and became a total loss five miles north of Kaipara.

14/12/71: Schooner Midge, 92 tons, stranded and totally lost half a mile south of Pouto Point, due to an error of judgment on the part, of the pilot. 16/10/75: Schooner Tawera, 55 tons, driveu ashore in a gale 14 miles north of Kaipar.'i with the loss of all hands (5)-. 15/1/76:. Schooner Melaino, ISO tons, stranded on North Head, and became a total loss.

2/7/76: Barque Lady Franklyn, 235 tons, stranded on the Mary Catherine Bank and became a total loss. 30/9/76: Schooner Strathnaver, 53 tons, capsized in Kemp Channel, KaiparU Bar, by heavy seas and one life lost. . ■

16/5/77: Barque Feronia, 315 tons, stranded and became a total loss. 9/7/78: Schooner Merlin, 41 tons, 2 lives lost by sea breaking on board when crossing bar.

LOSSES IN THE '80s.

3/9/80: Barque Clara Hargrave, 338 tons, stranded on Middle Bank, Kaipara Harbour. 7/10/80:. Brigantine James A. Stewart, 171*" tons, stranded on North Spit, Kaipara Harbour, and became a total loss. All hands (7) were drowned. 14/4/81: Brig Wild Wave, 173 tons, stranded on North Spit, Kaipara. 12/8/81: Schooner Eona, 92 tons, stranded 20 miles south of bar and became a total loss. All hands (5) were drowned. The vessel drifted ashore

bottom up and was fcurned by the Natives to get tho copper fastenings. 17/1/82: Barque East Lothian, 348 tons, stranded on the outside edge of Tory Shoal at entrance to Kaipara Harbour.

29/3/82: Barque Viudex, 200 tons, stranded on North Spit and became a total loss.

11/5/82: Barque Grpssmere, 465 tons, stranded on bar.

1/7/82:' Schooner "Torea, 78 tona, stranded through overrunning anchor which caused chain to foul.

24/8/82: Barque Caberfeidh, 333 tons, stranded "on Tory Shoal through master disregarding signalman's instructions. 19/1/83: Barque Mary Mildred, 460 tons, stranded and became a total loss. ■ 2/1/85: Brig Annabell, 348 tons, stranded on Tory Shoal and1 became a total loss.

17/1/85: Brigantine Camille, 221 tons, stranded on Inner Shoal. 17/1/85: Brig Wave, 174 tons, stranded on Inner Shoal. After stranding, tho vessel was condemned.

20/2/85: Barque Mary Ann Anuison, 29S tons, stranded on North Spit and became a total loss.

26/3/85: Barque Mathieu> 367 tons, stranded on North Spit and became a total loss.

2-1/S/S5: Brigantine' Western Star, 12-i tons, stranded on South Head, Kaipara. 20/5/S6: Brigantine Defiance, 109 tons, stranded on Tory Shoal. .24/8/87-: Ketch Eecamia, 69 tons, capsized and .foundered at entrance, with loss of all hands (5).

5/6/S7: Barque Sophia B. Luhrs, (J6l tons, stranded on North.. Spit and became a total loss. This vessel had previously, on the 27th February, 1880, stranded on a rock off Lyall Bay, near Wellington, and this rock has since been known as Luhrs Kock.

22/5/89: Barque Caberfoidh, 303 tons, stranded on the Tory Shoal. 27/7/89: Schoonor Sarah Pile, 115 tons, stranded on the Tory Shoal. 8/10/89: Brigantine Stanley, 344 tons, stranded on the Mary Catherine Bank.

7/2/90: Barquo Splendid, 35S tons, grounded on the river bank at Port Albert in Kaipara Harbour, and became stranded. When beached to attend to a leak she- collapsed.

8/5/90: Brig Wild Wave, 173 tons, stranded on North Spit at entrance to Kaipara Harbour. 17/12/91: Barque Rebecca, 413 tons, stranded on Mary Catherine Bank at Kaipara.

LOSS OF THE NORTHERN STAR.

About 20/2/93, Barque Northern Star, 327 tons, left Hokianga loaded with bulk timber for Wellington. The hull was washed ashore bottom up at the entrance to Kaipara liarbour on the 16th March, 1893, and from the appearance of the bows she seemed to have been in collision with a vessel. Wreckage from the missing ship Gowanburn came ashore about the samo time. All hands (8) were lost. . 22/2/97: Schoonor Huia, 196 tons, stranded cm Tory Shoal at entrance to Kaipara. 21/3/99: Barquentine Cuthona, 201 tons, stranded on North Spit and became a total loss.

28/4/99: Barque Cloud, 2SO tons, stranded at Port Albert in Kaipara liarbour.

14/8/99: Steam tug Sterling was driven ashore at Pouto in a gale when the moorings parted. 3/8/1900: Barquentine Lark, 139 tons, stranded at Kaipara Heads. 20/10/1900: Barquentine Lord of the Isles, 208 tons, stranded at North Spit and became a total loss.

22/2/01: Brigantine Eliza Firth, 143 tons, stranded near North Spit, Kaipara. 25/2/01: Schooner Lady St. Aubyn, 150 tons, stranded on North Spit and became a total losb.

19/8/01: Steamer Elmville, 1173 tons, stranded near Toka Toka in Kaipara Harbour. 10/7/02: Schooner Huia stranded on Tory Shoal at entranco to Kaipara Harbour.

18/9/02: Norwegian barque Emerald, 745 tons, stranded on the luner Shoals of Kaipara Bar. 24/9/02: Russian barr|iio Concordia, 049 tons, stranded 14 miles south of Kaipara Heads during a heavy gale. The-vessel was subsequently sold and refloated. One life was lost.

17/5/02: Schooner May, 237 tons

stranded midway between Kaipara and Manukau and became a total loss. The master and five of the crew were drowned. 9/1/03: Schooner Opotiki, 3S tons, stranded on the Lady Franklin Bank and became a total loss.

5/5/03: Schooner Warrior, 73 tons, stranded near lighthouse at Kaipara Heads.

22/9/04: Barque Onyx, 396 tons, stranded during a gale at the waterhole in Kaipara Harbour. 16/11/04: Barque Kinclune, 690 tons, stranded 11 miles south of Kaipara bar.

19/1/05: Schooner Lark, 139 tons, stranded at 'inner entrance of south channel, Kaipara Harbour.

27/2/05: Barque Margarite, 494 tons, stranded on inner end of Tory Shoal. 14/5/05: Barquentine Neptune, 343 tons, stranded on North Spit, Kaipiirii Harbour, and became a total loss. 20/5/05: Barquentine Elverland, 361 tons, stranded on western edge of Tory Shoal. 15/6/05: Barque Emerald, 7-15 tons, stranded near North Spit and became a total loss. 27/8/06: -Brigautine Defiance, 199 tons, stranded on western sandspit at Kaipara. 20/9/06: Steamer Cape Corricntes, 1666 tons, stranded at Dog Point, Kaipara Harbour. 28/1/07: Barque Wai-Iti, 690 tons, in ballast, capsized at Mangawharo in Kaipara Harbour, and was subsequently refloated. . 15/3/07: Ketch Isabella do Frame, 94 tons, stranded near lighthouse at entrance to Kaipara, 26/6/07: Schooner Tramp, S6 tons, stranded 20 miles south of entrance to Kaipara. 7/5/08: Cutter Warkwork, 25 tons, stranded ; 15 miles south-east of lighthouse at iKaipara, and became a total loss. . . .

18/8/08: s.s. Waratah, 96 tons, stranded on Tory Shoal through steering gear carrying away.

Ship to Shore Radiophone. A radio telephone has been suggested as p. means of establishing effective communication between overseas ships in the Wanganui roadstead and the shore. Gisborne has adopted this1 up-to-date means and details of the cost and capabilities of the requisite set was placed before the Wanganui board recently, reports "The Chronicle." "I have to advise that the board's wire-

less installation consists of a 12-watt transmitter and a 4-valve short and long wave receiver," stated the Gisborne secretary in a letter. "Both are operated on A.C. supply from the city mains. The portable gear for placing aboard steamers in the roadstead consists of a 3-watt transmitter and a 2valve receiver. This transmitter is driven off the ship's current and the receiver is self-contained, with dry batteries. I understand that the ordinary cost of. the components of the main wireless apparatus in the signal station should be about £150 and the portable apparatus about £50. The cost to this board for the;' component, parts,, assembling, and erection of masts, etc., was under £200. The licence costs ten guineas a year and tho overseas shipping companies have all agreed to make use of the installation and pay a charge of 25s for the first day, 10s for the second, and 10s for the third. This £2 5s has been made the maximum charge per vessel at each entry to the port." Illustrating the capabilities of the set, the writer stated that the master of (lie Kent had been able to speak to the pilot station, and, through the l:uid linos from there, to his agents in Napier. Mr. A. S. Burgess said that the shipping companies were considering the matter now, and it would be time enough for the Wanganui Board to discuss it when they had come to some decision. •

According to survey funuslie3.ljy the Morehan t. Marine Committee.. p. f ~ .the United States Cougre^s, approximately 81 per.cent, of the cost of an: American merchant ship goes jtfli labour— labour in actually building the ..ship, and the labour of producing and transporting the numerous materials that' go into it. .