THE NGAHERE WRECKED

Kaikoura Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 40, 16 May 1924, Page 4

THE NGAHERE WRECKED

GREYMOUTH, May 12. | The steamer Ngahere struck on the : North or Cobden tip about 3 p.m. to- ! day. Bound for Wellington, the vessel left her berth shortly before 3 p.m. | High water was due at 4.17 p.m., but as the Ngahere was loaded a little on the light side, and was carrying about 60 tons short of her usual cargo, it was not deemed necessary to wait till that hour. When she loft the wharf on her way Io Miramar and Wellington she was drawing lift 9in forward and 15ft Sin aft, a little less than usual. The loading of the vessel’s cargo of 180,000 super feet of timber and 757 tons of coal was practically completed on Saturday evening, only four trucks of timber being loaded to-day, and she remained in port till the bar was workable. The Regulus, which is of 247 tons, crossed the bar bo- -.i t for Pict on and Nelson at about 2.30 p.m., ami e xperienced no trouble, but the Ngahere struck the bar very heavily, and her way was stopped. Piled on the Bocks. The vessel soon became powerless, and could make no progress whatever. Founding rollers and the northerly set soon piled the steamer on the rocks, and the siren was sounded for the first time in this position. Heavy seas swept on board and filled the vessel fore and aft, and the engineroom staff’, who wore waist deep in water, were ordered up by the master. Finally the steamer became fast at almost exactly the same place as the illfated Perth—parallel to the coastline, and with the stern projecting across the fairway. GREYMOLTH, May 12, (11.30 p.m.) The Ngahere is now a total wreck. The Union Steam Ship Company, on the advice- of its local office, has decided to abandon any attempts to salvage the vessel. Advice received from the Tiphead at a late hour to-night was to the effect that the sea was worse, and would probably show no sign of improvement till the tide was making again. It was too dark to see whether the Ngahere was breaking up, but it was anticipated that her back would soon be broken. The Wrecked Vessel. The Ngahere is a steel steamer of 1090 tons and her dimensions are: Length 225 ft, beam 33.1 ft, depth 15.7 ft. She was built by A. Rodger ami Co., Glasgow, in 1908 for the Blackball Coal Company, and was specially designed for coal carrying. She is classed 100 Al in Lloyd’s Register, and -her accomodation for both officers and crew is much above the average. Some three years ago the U.S.S. Co. chartered the Blackball Co.’s three steamers —Ngakuta, Ngatoro and Ngahere—and they have been sailing under the Union Co.’s flag ever since.