FERRY STEAMER ASHORE

Evening Star, Issue 16559, 19 October 1917, Page 5

FERRY STEAMER ASHORE

WAIREKA STRANDED AT PORTOBELLO. The Peninsula Ferry Company's steamer Waireka received a severe buffeting during the height of the storm yesterday afternoon. The vessel left the Portobello wharf at 3.45 p.m. for Dunedin, but had not proceeded very far when she was struck by a 'fierce squall. She was, not able to make any headway against the wind, and Captain Edie, seeing that the vessel was uncontrollable, immediately gave orders to drop the anchor. The Waircka was a good distance from the wharf, but the. anchor failed to hold, and she_ dragged towards the peninsula on which the fiah hatcheries are situated. Captain Edie then succeeded in safely beaching his vessel on a sandv beach, within about 25 yards of the shore. At low water the Waircka is left high and dry. It is anticipated that she will be successfully refloated to-day or at high water at 4 a.m. to-morrow.

There were only four passengers on hoard, and they were able to walk ashore from the stranded vessel and return to Porotbello. Some idea of the force of the wind may be gained from the fact that some of the heavy seats on the top deck of the Waireka were blown along the deck and piled in a heap against the wheel-hous^e. On receipt of the news of the mishap, Mr H. C. Campbell, manager of the Peninsula Ferry Company, Limited, and Messrs C. Speight and ft. G. Hudson left for the ecene immediately* hy motor car, arriving at the beach where the vessel is stranded at 5.45 p.m. _ After satisfying themselves that _ the Waireka was lying in a safe position, the party returned to the City late last night. Mr;Campbell states that the Waireka is not damaged in any way, and he anticipates that no difficulty, will be experienced in refloating her. Before leaving for Portobello yesterday afternoon, Air Campbell made arrangements for Mr C. Speight's launch Kiwi to take the passengers from Dunedin to the various bays, and the boat made tho trip successfully last evening.