WILD DAYS IN WAIROA.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

WILD DAYS IN WAIROA.

GREAT SALVAGE FEAT IN ’76.

On Friday, September 1, 1876, 2 p.m. the \s.s. Manain, from Napier to Wairoa, got aground on the northern spit. All the Europeans that could bo collected set to work to get her off, but, after working all Saturday and Sunday, they gave up in despair. It was then proposed to let the Maoris try and get the steamer off and a reward of £2OO was offered should they succeed. Fully four hundred .Natives then assembled on the licacli (not reckoning women and children) on the Monday afternoon and set to work to dig a wav the shingle. They then laid skids under the vessel, and procured an enormous lever, and commenced to prize her, foot by foot, towards the river.

The chiefs were on the deck encouraging and exciting the workers, Hamana Taakiwai 'being the most conspicuous, and while one body of Natives worked the lever another body dragged the vessel. A strong west wind was blowing when the Narves commenced operations, but, by the Wednesday, the wind had changed to a scu-wcster. which soon raised the sea and at high water that night, by the combined effect of the wind, the surf and the Natives, the Manaia was safely brought into deep water inside the river. On the Thursday morning she steamed up to the wharf with all the Natives on board cheering. It was then proposed to give the Natives £4OO, instead of £2OO.