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Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3905, 23 April 1877, Page 2

The schooners Waiwera and Hinemoa were towed out by the s.s. Sir Donald yesterday afternoon. They are both bound for Auckland. The cutter Fannie left yesterday afternoon for Whangapoua. The s.s. Jane Douglas arrived from East Cape on Friday at 4 p.m. The s.s. Rangatira, upon her last trip to Poverty Bay, was only able to land a small portion of her cargo, as there was a very sea. She discharged her Napier cargo on Saturday morning, and left for Wellington at 11.30 a.m. on Sunday. She had to steam against a strong flood tide in going out. She has a cargo of wool, skins, and talloAv for transhipment to the ship Rakaia. We noticed among otherpassengers, Mr Wamsley, Avho, Aye understand intends settling permanently in Invercargill. The s.s. Wanaka was discharging her cargo throughout the whole of Saturday. The last lighter left her side shortly after dark, and she steamed for Poverty Bay at 2 o'clock in the morning. Tlie s.s. Sir Donald, in toAving out the lighter Three Brothers to the s.s. Wanaka on Saturday morning, struck the bar, and had to cast off the tow line. In .Saturday's issue we gave an account of the grounding of the s.s. Sir Donald on the Rangatira bank. As it happened, she was got off without sustaining any apparent injury, but had she stuck fast, with sea after sea sweeping her decks, what assistance could have been rendered by those on shore ? True, we have a lifeboat, but it is under lock and key hi the Harbor Board's shed, and had it been necessary to have launched it upon the occasion referred to, could it have been done in time to have been of service to those on board? The chances are against it. We would suggest that in bad weather, or at times when there is a heavy break on the bar, the lifeboat be kept in readiness for launching in case of necessity.