FREIGHTER KAURI GROUNDS NEAR OTAGO HEADS

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1949, Page 4

FREIGHTER KAURI GROUNDS NEAR OTAGO HEADS

DUNEDIN, Feb. If. The Union Company’s 2351-ton in-ter-colomai freighter, Kauri, went aground about 7.30 this morning at Weller’s Rock, near the Kaik, in the lower part of Otago Harbour, as it was leaving Dunedin fully laden with general cargo for Wellington. At noon, more than six hours before the next high tide, the vessel still stood fast bow to shore, about 100 yards from rock, and firmly embeded in the sand. Eye-witnesses said that the vessel had just passed another Union Company vessel, the Wainui, in the channel when it seemed the Kauri’s engines cut out. Two anchors were thrown out, but the vessel was swung round by the tide to face the shore and drifted about 400 yards before grounding. At noon she lay with her bow in an estimated 16 feet of .water, but this depth would be smaller yet until the low-water mark was passed about one o’clock. It’seemed likely that the Kauri would remain agrounc at least until the next high tide, which will occur at Taiaroa Heads at 6.42 p.m. VESSEL DRIFTS OFF SAFELY P.A. DUNEDIN, February 17. After being stranded on a sand bank near the entrance to Otago harbour for eight hours to-day, the inter-colonial freighter, Kauri, was eased, with the end of the incoming tide, about 3.15 p.m., and apparently undamaged, headed out to sea on her course for Wellington. The ship left the wharf for Wellington at 5.45 a.m., and as she was leaving the harbour, she had engine trouble and drifted gently on to the sand about 7.15 a.m. Her holds were full of general cargo and wheat and gypsum. Little difficulty was experienced by the Otago Harbour Board tug, Dunedin, in freeing the vessel.