FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 19, 22 July 1933, Page 22

FIFTY YEARS AGO

■' It was reported fifty years ago that a quantity of wreckage had been washed ashore about three miles north of Opunake. The signalman at that place was directed by the Marine Department to investigate the wreckage,, and he 'reported tfiat it consisted of a portion of a vessel's deckhouse, the wreck of a £>oat, two. ash oars, and one boat's yard. The s.s. Australia damaged tho Bailway Wharf at Auckland fifty years ago when sho ran into it. Evidence was given to the effect that the steamer was allowed to come too close to the wharf before, any effort was made on tho part of tho pilot to stop li'cr way. The 'pilot stated that he gave orders for tho vessel to go astern,, but that instead sho went ahead. He again gave orders for full speed astern, and sho appeared to him to gather speed. His reason for running head on ta the wharf was to save coming down on the schooner Energy or tho Thames steamer Eotomahana, which were on cither side of the Australia. Tho damago was estimated at £150. > '<

A. telegram from Now Plymouth reported tho steamer Oreti to be in distress in Kawhia Harbour. She left Wellington for Wanganui, but, not being able to enter that harbour, went on to Opunako and was not able, to land her cargo there. She then made for tho Waitara. but could not enter the river owing to the dangerous state of the bar, so,sho bore away for Kawhia in order to obtain shelter. . Iv at.tompting to enter Kawhia she bumped on tho bar and, as it was afterwards found that she was holed, sho had to remain there until help was rendered.

The steamer McGregor, which hud been detained in tho Waitaru Kivoi1 eight days owing to a sandbank which had formed and prevented her getting out, attempted to leave on July IS. 1883, and grounded. An attempt was mado to lighten her but without effect. Her condition was slated to be critical. Sho was floated off the following morning. The barque Loch Ken, bound from Auckland to London with a cargo valued sit £30,000, went ashore at the Firth of Thames on July 30, ISS3. 'Hie weather was thick and tho vessel's compasses were wrong. She was got off the next day and was uninjured.