TOLL UPON SHIPPING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18707, 13 May 1924, Page 11

TOLL UPON SHIPPING.

LOSSES AT GREYMOUTH.; •■.!_ • r . • MANY VESSELS TOECKEIX ; CASUALTIES IN EARLY DAYS. J ; Greymouth, where the steamer Ngaiern was wrecked yesterday,; is one of -, the most - dangerous; ports in New . Zealand to navigate' a vessel in or out, owing to - its narrow entrance . and exposed position. The width of the entrance between the inner north and the south breakwater is only 400 ft., with a tidal wall in the river, commencing near the ; entrance. Almost, any wind from the . north-west to southwest will raise a considerable sea on the bar, and should the slightest accident happen to a vessel's steering gear or engines when crossing the bar there is a chance of the ship drifting ashore near either breakwater or on the beach. How dangerous is the entrance is shown by the fact that at least 43 shipping accidents have occurred there, resulting in the — total ; loss of 23 vessels. The following is a list of the shipping mishaps which have occurred at' Greymouth : ' , 1865 or 1866 the steamer Eleanor, the schooner Christina Thompson and the cutter Swan were all lost. September 18, 1866, the schooner Excelsior, while being towed out, ; was wrecked and became a total loss. . ; July 18, 1867, brigantine Harriet, total loss.. ■ " • ' .November 5, 1867, steamer Charles Edward, stranded, was got off. November 9, 1867, schooner Cymraes, total, loss. , ■ June 9, 1868, schooner Louisa, total loss. July 15, 1868, brigantine, Pat the Rover, total loss. - - August 22, I£6B, ketch, Jane Elkin, total loss. "; . ' ' July .l, 1869, steamer Bruce, total loss. September 8, 1869, ketch Pearl, total loss. . ■' „ ■" ; > August 24, 1870, ketch Constant, total loss. November 5, 1870, steamer Wallabi, stranded; got off. June 22, 1874, steamer; Waipara, stranded; got off. December 14, 1874, steamer Kennedy, stranded; got off. September 14, 1875, steamer Kennedy, stranded; got off. September 24, 1875, steamer Waipara, stranded; got off. February 5, 1876, brigantine Mary Bannatyne, stranded; got off. March 1, 1876, steamer Lioness, stranded got off. December 7, 1876, ketch Forest Queen, stranded; got off. June 12, 1877, steamer Wallace, stranded; got off. June 17, 1877, schooner . Mar Ogilvie, stranded; got off. •> * > ! August 23, 1877, schooner St. Kilda, stranded; got off. ■i- 1 ■ September 25, 1877, ketch Argus, stranded; got off. ; September 11, 1879, steamer Charles Edward, stranded; got off. • July 16, 1880, • steamer Kennedy, stranded; got off. September 8, 1880, schooner Alma, stranded; got off. September 1, 1882, steamer Lioness, total loss. December 22, 1884, steamer Queen of the South, total loss. October 14, 1885, steamer Wallace, total loss. July 3, 1886, steamer Wallabi, stranded: got off. November 29, 1886, steamer Mawhera, i stranded; got off by relaunching. I '' 1 June 23, 1888, steamer Gerda, total ■ loss. • . I 1 . August 7, 1895, barque Thurso, total loss. ■ October 1, 1898, steamer Mapourika, . stranded; ; got off. ; , : < October 6,: 1899, steamer . Hesketh, - stranded;. total los<^ r . v t ' •; , - July 16, 1900, .steamer; Taupo {No. 2), :. total loss. . ' " ■'. ; October 30, 1908, steamer Hawea, (No. 2), total loss. . V June 27, 1910, steamer Lauderdale, total loss. November 14, 1921, Perth, total 1 loss.