STRANDING OF THE S.S. WALLABI.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5539, 5 July 1886, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE S.S. WALLABI.

The s.s. Wallabi, Captain Leys, was stranded almost high and dry on the north beach on Saturday night. It appears that Captain Leys having consulted the Harbor Master as to the state of the sea at the time, made up his mind to go put. The weather was calm and the river covered with a thick fog, though the lights of the signal staff could be plainly discerned above it. The vessel was taken down the river and out over T the bar all right about eleven o'clock ; Ibut when she got outside she encountered a series of very heavy rollers coming in. The first one was passed through with safety, but it was at once followed by another and another, and so on for four or five in quick succession, which simply drove the steamer towards the beach, until she was finally lifted on the crest of a huge sea and landed high and 3ry on the north beach, about half a mile from the entrance of the river, where she now lies, perfectly uninjured and out of the reach of the waves, being further protected by a bank of shingle all round her. She no sooner touched than a couple of sailors jumped ashore and made her fast. She is within a few feet of the crown of the beach. The Wallabi is Insured in the New Zealand Insurance Office for LIOO, and it is believed that she is also insured for L3OO or L 350 in the Victoria. , She was full of coal at the time, a good deal of which has since been jettisoned. Yesterday afternoon Captain Turnbull (Harbor Master) and Captain Allardyce held a survey on her and pronounced her to be uninjured in any way. In consequence of their report tenders have been called for launching her into the river. There are two modes by which this may be done She must be launched either along the crown of the beach, a distance of about 1000 yards, to the river, or through the lagoon, which would necessitate thp stoppage of the contractors' works on the [ north side of the river for a few days and j the removal of a row of piles from the bridge over the lagoon. It is a littie singular that the Wallabi can™ safely through all the heavy break I on the north beach Without touching until

she was cast high up on the bank. It is thought that if she .had not been full of coal she would have been landed on top of the bank. Judging from ihe appearance of the outside of the hull, she has sustained no. -damage whatever, which is striking testimony to the strength of the steamer, which is built of a class of irpn.sejdom^pr never used nowadays— The_ best Low-Moor! ThTgeneral" opinion Is that if she had been a new boat ahe would not be now worth launching after her experiences on Saturday night. Great sympathy is felt for the owners of the boat, none of whom are men of means, but the feeling is especially strong on behalf of Captain Leys, who has been many years trading to this port, and who enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him. No less than £1300 has been spent in repairs to the Wallabi during the last 12 months. , A great number of people visited the wreck yesterday. The only disagreeable episode connected with the stranding was the scalding of the chief engineer (Mr Griffiths) in the face. Just about the time the steamer was in difficulties, the check valve burst, and the hot water or steam struck Mr Griffiths in the face, and scalded him_VJßry seriously. He will come ashore to-day to be treated.