FIFTY YEARS AGO

Evening Post, Issue 28, 1 August 1936, Page 24

FIFTY YEARS AGO

RAISING OF LYTTELTON?

"Active measures are, being taken at Timaru for the raising of the ship Lyttelton," said "The Post" of July 27, 1886. "We see by the 'Lyttelton Times' that a new theory has been started as to the cause of the ship foundering. According to that paper it has been stated freely in Timaru that the hull of the Vessel is entirely uninjured, and that the accident was due to one of the refrigerating valves being left open by accident."

The barque Crpwnthorpe, well known in the trade with the colonies, was reported by cable to have been abandoned, after being dismantled during heavy weather. A portion of the crew was saved. The Crownthorpe was ■ a vessel well known in the colony, having been engaged in. the New Zealand trade since her launch at Sunderland in 1873.

The barque Chasca, which arrived at Sydney, after being several weeks overdue from New York, turned out to be the vessel which appeared off the Wellington Heads on May 28, and sheered off without picking up the pilot. The chief officer stated that the vessel was becalmed off the heads for three days. The pilot station and pilot boat were plainly visible when the barque was off' Port Nicholson heads, but neither tug nor pilot offered to come near them, and, heavy weather coming on, the Chasca was driven oft' the land and buffeted unmercifully.

Some anxiety was reported to be felt in Christchurch regarding 'the ■•safety-oi the schooner Omaha, which traded to. the Chathams, and was a fortnight overdue.

The,steamer Hauraki had a narrow escape from being burnt at the wharf on the night of July 00. Three of the hands, on returning to the vessel between 11 and 12 o'clock, were surprised to see smoke issuing from the forecastle. On investigation it was found that by some means a waistcoat belonging to a fireman was smouldering in the bunk where it was lying, and had-just communicated the : fire Vto the blankets. A bucket of water soon extinguished the blaze. ,