GAEL BELIEVED AGROUND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 5 July 1943, Page 4

GAEL BELIEVED AGROUND

REPORT BY AIRMANVESSEL AT OKURU, SOUTH WESTLAND Christchurch, This Day A report that the South Westland Shipping Company’s motor-vessel Gael, of 45 tons gross register, appeared to have grounded either on the bar or on a sank-bank in the river at Okuru was brought to Hokitika on Saturday evening by a pilot of Air Travel (N.Z.), Ltd. after a flight from South Westland. No confirmation that the vessel was in difficulties could be obtained by officers of the company at Hokitika over the week-end, as telephone communication with Okuru could not be established and the vessel is not equipped with wireless. The Gael, which is the only vessel regularly serving South Westland, was scheduled to enter Okuru harbour at high tide about 11 o’clock on Saturday morning. If she has gone aground on the bar and has since failed to get clear, the vessel will be in a hazardous position, as there will not be an equally high tide for another fortnight. On the other hand, the weather over the week-end was fine and the sea calm, and the spring tide reached its maximum yesterday. The owners are awaiting definite news before taking steps to secure assistance. The master of the Gael is Captain J. Reeves, of Greymouth, and the crew are Messrs W. Shand, J. Houston, H. Foreman, H. Harding, J. Sangster, an' R. Smith, all of Hokitika.