THE BARQUE LA PLATA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12192, 11 February 1903, Page 5

THE BARQUE LA PLATA.

RUNS ON A REEF.

THE VESSEL CONDEMNED.; . Thh Norwegian barque La Plata, while on the voyage from the island of Rotumah to Levuka, ran on to the Horseshoe Reef early on the morning of January 24. The weather was very stormy at the time, but after about nine hours' hard work, and the tide rising, the barque was floated off again. She was making a good deal of water, and the windmill pumps, with which all Norwegian vessels are fitted, were set to work, and kept going continuously, in order to keep the barque free from the incoming water. In order to have everything in readiness, in case the leak gained upon the pumps, the three boats belonging to the barque were provisioned and got into the water, being towed astern. The barque, however, made Levuka- in safety, and as soon as she arrived the work of discharging her cargo, which consisted of copra, was commenced. There were 3ft of water in the hold when the barque reached Levuka, and a portion of the cargo was damaged. A native diver went down and made an examination of the vessel, and reported that the keel from the mainmast aft was torn away, and a lot of the copper damaged. When the cargo was all landed a further examination of the barque was made, when it was found that she was very considerably damaged, and as there were no facilities at Levuka for effecting repairs, the vessel was condemned as uuseaworthy, and will probably be sold by auction.