THE BARQUENTINE PELOTAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13202, 13 June 1906, Page 5

THE BARQUENTINE PELOTAS

FLOATED OFF THE NORTH SPIT. , VESSEL SERIOUSLY. DAMAGED. [bt telegraph.—own CORRESPONDENT.] * ' Whangape/ Tuesday. Thk barqueutine Pelotas, which grounded on the North Spit 011 (Saturday whilst being towed out by the s.s. Ohinemuri, has been floated and towed into the river. The vessel left the wharf at a-quarter to eleven a.m. on Saturday, and everything went well until crossing from the North Head to the South Head. The -'elotas then suddenly took a sheer to 1 arboard against her helm, and grounded on the North Spit. •

There was very little sea. on at .the time of the accident, but all efforts made by the steamer to tow her off 1 were unsuccessful. In about 20 minutes after the vessel had struck she was full of water, and her rudder carried away.

During Saturday the steamers Ohinemuri and Kaipnra stood by the stranded vessel, and as the seas were beginning to break over the Peloids in the evening it was considered advisable to take the crew, and their effects off. The men and their belongings were put 011 board the Ohinemuri, and taken up to the township. : •

Oh Saturday night the Pelotas shifted her position, and after some difficult, work t-he Qhinemuri managed to get- her over to the smith side of the harbour, where she iva3 in a less dangerous position.

The vessel was afterwards towed up to the wha-if, where she now lies. olio has been pretty well dismantled, and it is feared that, owing to , the severe Lumping on the rocks", she is damaged beyond repair.

The cargo, consisting of 200,000 ft of kauri timber, is intact, and will be saved.