AT BLENHEIM.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 5348, 19 November 1885, Page 2

AT BLENHEIM.

j.#ffr n Blenheim, November 18. A collision occurred on the Opawa river at a quarter past three this morning, by which the Waihi struck the Mohaka, and sank her. The Mohaka was on 'her way to. Wellington with a cargo of wool, tallow, brills, and lollies, and tha Waihi returning from Wellington with a dozen passengers. The steamers met in Harding 1^ bend, which is the sharpest in the river,, the approaches being lined and oohcealed. by willows. The Mohaka was an hour late on the tide, and the Waihi had no reason to expect to meet her. Both Captains, Manning and Eckford, were at the wheel, and a proper lookout was kept,^but neither saw the other till they-inet - in-the sharp and narrow bend. Manning blew tho whistle and stopped. Eckford gave orders to stop her, and reverse the engines, but there was not KJJMflftt'. ti me to avert the collision. v^sHKB 1 "' 8 bow sfcruck the Mohaka feet from the stern on the port side, 5 ripping her down from the top to below the water's edge. Eckford, seeing the Mohaka begin to settle, instantly took steps to remove his cargo with the Waihi's gear, but it was too late, as in less than five minutes the Mohaka settled down in the river. The way on her caused her to swing bow on the bank, and nothing is visible but the bow, masts, and three feet of the gunwale. Captain Exckford and the crew got on board the Waihi, and returned to Blenheim. The Waihi's plates are slightly dented, but not more than if she struck a stump. Neither captain blames the other, both agreeing that it was a pure accident caused by the willows preventing one seeing the other till too late to avoid collision, which happened 20 minutes after noon. Both captains memorialised the River Board at its meeting last Monday to clear the obstructions to navigation, of which great complaints had Jeen made for years past, and the Board determined to enforce its powers under the Amendment Act of 1884, by giving owners 14 days to cut the willows. The Mohaka was insured for £460 in the Victoria in the Wellington Office, and the ; cargo was covered by a floating policy She had a «mall postal mail on board The steamer can be raised, and moat be removed, as she obstructs the navigation but it i« doubtful if it will pay to raise her as a commercial speculation. Captain Eckford estimates his loss at £500. An inquiry into the collision is taking pla<;e - this afternoon before Mr Paisley, Collector of Customs, who excluded the Press without assigning any reason. The Mohaka still lies in the river 1 with her atern in 16 feet of water. „ ,