STEAMER ASHORE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 May 1925, Page 5

STEAMER ASHORE

OUTSIDE THE MOLE*

ACCIDENT AT CASTLECLIFF

OVERSEAS VESSEL GROUNDED.

« (BY TELEGRAPH. PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WANGANUI, May 247

When the overseas steamer Cvrena was entering port this morning ' she grounded on a Baud shoal formed as a result of the heavy flood. She got off to-night under her own steam, but was caugnt by a strong current and again grounded some 690 yards to the north of the mole.

At midnight the vessel was reported to be leaking in all holds. The tug Terawliiti leaves Wellington to-morrow morning. WANGANUI. May 25. The sand and shoal on which the j Cvrene grounded was probably formed by the flood in the river, and"' the heavy seas of the past few days. The vessel shifted during the night, and is now grounded about 100 yards north, of the mo'e. The tug Terawhiti was engaged, and should be here this afternoon.

It is anticipated that the work of lightering, which is to be carried out before the tug’s arrival, should proceed with litle difficulty, in view of the fact that at an early hour this morning the sea had moderated appreciably, while the wind showed a corresponding recovery. At the time of entering the roadstead the Cvrene was drawing 17 feet. The vessel is the property of- the Ang'o-Saxon Petroleum Co., and is under the charge oi Captain Patterson. She carries a , crew of between forty and fifty, of which number about fifteen are Europeans, the remainder being Chinese. The New Zealand Express Co. are the agents' for the Cyrene.

This morning’s Wanganui Chronicle, referring to the mishap, stated that the vessel was at the time of grounding under the command of the harbourmaster, Captain. Mclntyre. The Harbour Board’s tug Togo made lor the scene, but it was evident, however, that the ruffled state of the entrance wou’d not permit any successful manoeuvre to relieve the vessel. Meantime the seas grew greater in volume and ferocity, so that any suggetsion of towing became dissipated in the existing circumstances.

At 2 p.m. it was decided to try to ighter the vessel, which_is three parts loaded. All was in readiness for the men to proceed in the fighter Thistle, when it was noticed that the Imlay Freezing Company’s Mana was about to attempt to get- alongside the Cyrene. As soon as this little steamer reached the turbid waters of the entrance matters assumed increased interest for those on shore. Her manoeuvring against the elements of- tide and wind was quite spectacular, but her essays to reach the stranded steamer, though expressive of excellent seamanship, were attended with little result. Undaunted. however, the skipper tried gain, but was compelled to .return to port. .. . Meantime the men of the Thistle stood bv and a decision was made to V make for the Cyrene. By this timeconditions both on shore and at sea had not given any appreciable indication of normal recovery. Rather the reverse, however, for the wind, which ip to this time blew from the east, turned direct south, with the resultthat the sea increased. Under the cir:uinstances nothing could be done.

AN OIL CARRIED. WELLINGTON, May 25. The Cyrena was specially built for the carriage of oil in 1913, and is 2138 | tons gross. She loaded at Singapore, and discharged part of her cargo at Auckland, which she left on Wednesday for Wanganui. She had 8000 cases to put off there, .and the remainder was for Lyttelton. Dunedin and Bluff. TER A WHIT! ON THE WAY. WELLINGTON. May 25. The tim Terawhiti left Wellington at 7 o’clock this morning for Wanganui to assist the Cyrene.