STRANDING OF BARQUE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 2 December 1927, Page 2

STRANDING OF BARQUE

CAPTAIN’S STATEMENT AT INQUIRY (United Press Association) NAPIER, This Day. At the inquiry into the stranding of the barque Margro near Porangahau, Captain J. W. Jones, the piaster, said that- the vessel met with increasingly bad weather from Cape Turnagain onward and so lie turned the vessel, seeking the shelter of Cape Pallisor. He turned again owing to the weather and hove to till daylight, when he set out for Castlepoint to anchor. Ihe attempt failed and ho headed for Napier, hut ultimately the weather forced him to shelter under Blackhead, anchoring on 23rd November. He took all precautions and retired at 8 p.in. He returned on deck at midnight, when the conditions were fairly good, but an hour later they got worse and he decided to round Cape Kidnappers. The vessel began to drag both anchors in spite ol the engine going full ahead and the vessel struck aft at 4 a.m. When the tide receded the vessel was high and dry. He sheltered because he was minus lubricating oil and the vessel, being without cargo or ballast, was unmanageable.