THE WRECK OF THE MAVIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 5

THE WRECK OF THE MAVIS.

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CREW. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] Gisborne, Friday. Particulars of the wreck of the schooner Mavis at the Mahia were brought to Gisborne this morning by the cutter Coralie. Upon hearing of the wreck, four members of the Coralie's crew tramped across the peninsula from Happy Jack's to render assistance, If required. They found the Mavis high and dray upon a strip of sandy beach, known as Te Haui, two miles north of Long Point. The vessel was uninjured, save that a portion of her false keel had been stripped. The crew, who were living in a Maori whare on the beach, and who were very pleased to see some Europeans, stated that they had proceeded on the passage from Gisborne to within a short distance of Napier, when they met a heavy south-west gale, which drove them back. The vessel was anchored for shelter under Long Point, but the gale and sea increased, and both anchors carried away. At the mercy of the waves, the little vessel was then driven up on to the beach, and luckily for those on board she grounded on the only patch of sand in the vicinity for miles. There is a strip of sand for about 200 yds where «sho lies. The rest of the coast is of a rocky and dangerous nature, and had the Mavis not landed where she did, she would probably have been dashed to pieces and the lives of her crew lost. The crew are standing by the vessel, and expect that assistance will be sent to enable them to refloat her, — ~