STEAMER AGROUND

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1927, Page 1

STEAMER AGROUND

MISHAP AT MANUKAU. AUCKLAND, Nov. 17. Out of control as a result of her steering gear breaking, the steamer Ngapuhi ran on to a mudbank off Big Muddy Creek, Manukau Harbour, this morning. The vessel was steaming at full speed at the time with the result that she went well on to tho hank.

The passengers, numbering 20, and a quantity of mail matter’ were brought to Onehuuga during the morning by the launch Awhitu.

Under ordinary circumstances the Ngapuhi would have left New Plymouth on Tuesday; but she was delayed there by rain and did not sail until last evening. She crossed the Manukau Bar at 5.50 a.m. to-day, but when opposite Big Muddy Creek, near Cornwallis, her steering gear carried away and she ran hard on to a mudbank before speed could be reduced.

As the tide was falling the vessel could not he got off and arrangements were at once made to dispatch a launch from Onelmnga.

Besides general cargo the Ngapuhi has on hoard eleven racehorses. A unit of the Northern Company’s fleet, the Ngapuhi (703 tons) has been relieving the Rarawe in the New Plymouth service for some weeks. Captain \Y. Bark, who has been in ibis service- for many years is master of the vessel, having taken command when the R-nrawe came round to Auckland for overhaul and survey. He has a wide reputation for seamanship and knowledge of the intricacies of the Manukau Harbour and its bar. The Manukau is notoriously difficult to navigate on account of numerous shoals and mudbnuks which Iroquontlj change their positions and launches engaged in the harbour services often spend an hour or so aground waiting for the tide to rise.

Efforts to refloat the Ngapuhi were made this afternoon, and about lour o’clock, an hour before full tide, she was moved into deep water under her own power. No damage was caused to 1 ho. vessel.