MARINE MISHAP

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 July 1923, Page 5

MARINE MISHAP

GALE WRECKS SCHOONER. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SUVA, July 10. The story of the wreck of the Alert was told by Captain McDonald chief owner, to-day. The ship loaded copra at Anabai, and proceeded to Futu. The weather was tine, and loading was in progress, when the wind shifted. At four in the morning of June 10, a heavy squall came down, and despite its anchors the schooner drifted squarely ashore on a reef. All hands were saved in the ship's boat. The gale raged three days, and the schooner broke in two. Subsequently the hull was sold to the Tongan Government for £2O. The passengers and crew of the Tofua subscribed £7B for the relief of the Alert’s crew. Most of the schooner’s sails and provisions were salvaged, also a portion of the crew's belongings. STEAM FROM OCEAN. SUVA, July 10. Captain Davey, of the Tofua, reports that at ten o’clock on July Ist ho sighted a dense column of steam rising ninety to one hundred feet out of the ocean, nineteen miles northwest, of Nukualofa. Previously this vicinity had always been a pale green patch, but now the sea was bubbling two feet high. The steam was visible for 20 miles. An earthquake occurred at Nukualofa the previous day. It was estimated the area that the steam was rising from was half a mile in extent. The passengers on the Tolna were greatly interested, tho ship being within easy distance for observing the phenomenon. MANUA REFLOATED. SUVA, July 10. The schooner Manna was towed off Bega. Reef on Saturday, and anchored at Suva to-day, apparently undama''ed The captain was arrested on a charge of frtiudnlcntly subscribing Io a. declaration -that no cargo was aboard when the vessel was laden and was carrying passengers, contrary to a Customs ordinance. # The captain was arrested under the Merchant Shipping Ad.