THE CAPTAIN HOPEFUL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 24 June 1912, Page 7

THE CAPTAIN HOPEFUL.

GISBORNE, June 24. Captain Hart of the Star of Canada, states that as the wind was increasing about ten o'clock and the weather looked threatening, he decided at 10.45 to go to sea and ordered steam to be got up and all hands to stand by to haul up the anchor. Up to this stage the anchor had been holding splendidly, without a sign oi dragging. At .11.15 the anchor was found to be dragging and before anything could be clone to get a second anchor down or to get to sea the vessel had touched on a rock. Efforts were made to back out. but it was found impossible to move the vessel either aft or forward. A second anchor had, meanwhile, been dropped, with the hope of keeping the vessel's head on to the sea and prevent her anchor either giving way from its holding or pulling fiat. The rapidity with which the vessel -went on the rocks was astounding, having regard to the ship's position. The captain states there is 17ft of water in Nos. 1, 2 and 8 holds, extending from the bow to the bridge. Captain Hart is not despondent regarding the position, and stated that tie best salvage plant that could be obtained in New Zealand would be hurried to the spot, and he vpas hopeful ■of being able to get the vessel off. The Star of Canada is resting on the rocks from amidships forward in a depth of three fathoms,, and five and a half fathoms aft. Pumping operations were continued until ten o'clock, but as the water was gradually making these were discontinued, as the captain considered the vessel would rest more steadily on the bottom. Efforts are to be made to take the ship's anchor further seaward and haul her head to the sea.

Ng. 1 hold is empty, "No. 2 contains about 8000 carcases of Gisborae meat, and !No. 3 hold is full of general cargo from the South Island. From amidships aft the vessel appears to be unSamaged, and is floating in deep water over the reef. "The vessel lies in a position on the leeward side of a, projecting reef, and is partially protected from southerly seas. During the night she bumped considerably, but, the sea having moderated, she is now lying easier, though riding ,to the swell. Ths Hipi, when taking Captain Rainey off, had a rough experience, Hmt got alongside without mishap. On the Star of Canada there was nothing to indicate that anything untoward had happened, except for the steamer's proximity to the shore, and the slightly -canted decks, the vessel being down by the head. There was, "however, an ominous thud &s th.c steamer pounded on the bottom.

The officers were not inclined to discuss the position. It was pretty anxious night, one or two admitted, and iht vess^. thumped, the reef pretty badly. The vessel lay almost broadside an to the sea. There was broken water ahead and broken water astern, which indicated the location of reefs. The after part of the steamer lays protruding into deeper water. Complete orderliness prevails, the men on duty going about theiv taoks as usual.

"I would like to know what sort of a place this is," said one of the officers. "We were sending up-rochets and firing guns fit to waken the dead, but could get no response. Certainly someone did try to answer 'from the shore, but he did not seem to be able to make out our messages, and w'heK he asked us 'What is wrong ?' it about broke us up, seeing we were piled up on a reef." Thri steamer is in a good place, and under the lee of a reef from the southeast sea, states Captain Rainey, the Tysei Company's marine superintendent. She is fairly protected from the force of the sea from that quarter. We are trying to get the Union Company's Tuatea to take one of the ship's "anchors and place it out seawards. If we can get that anchor out, it will steady the steamer considerably. We are sending for the biggest salvage plant we can get at Auckland or Wellington, and I think we will get her off.