THE STRANDED CYRENA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19027, 26 May 1925, Page 10

THE STRANDED CYRENA.

TUG TERAWHITI ON SCENE. MUCH WATER IN HOLDS. CARGO TO i3E LIGHTERED. WEATHER CONDITIONS BETTER. [n\- TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] \VaNGANUI. Monday. When the steamer Cyrcna first went ashore on Sunday her position was not regarded as serious, but after s!io shifted and had settled further north and further out to sea there was cause for anxiety and concern. It was apparent that she would remain until she was piilled off. The Cyrcna first made her appearance in tho roadstead on Friday evening,, having made a fairly good trip down from Auckland, where part of her cargo of case oil had been unloaded. The river was then in flood and caused quite a bug run at, the entrance. In consequence of the conditions it. was considered advisable to hold off nn/il matters improved and it was not till Sunday morning that it was decided to make for the berthage at Castlecliff. j Tho harbourmaster, Captain P. Mcltityre, assumed control of tho Cyrcna, which was drawing about 17ft. of water. It, was noticed by those on shore that the vessel stopped when about 500 yds from the, entrance but they did not attach much importance to this as it was thought it was in some way connected with the large quantities of driftwood floating down tho river. However} signals began to pass between the vessel and the shore and tho Harbour Board's tug then made for the scene. In tho ruffled state of the entrance tho tug was unable to render assistance and finally returned to her berth. Tho seas grew greater and towing obviously more impossible than ever. At about two o'clock it was decided to try .to lighter the vessel. The waterside workers were organised and all the, men required were ready to go out by the Thistle. In the meantime, however, the Refrigerating Company's Mann, had made an attempt to get alongside the stranded vessel, but despite good seamanship and much manoeuvring was quite unable to do so and the skipper was compelled to put, back to port. The Thistle was not allowed to leave tlje wharf. When the Cyren'a was first caught on the shoal it was considered only a matter of time until she would be able to get i off. Her propellers wero in action, but it ! was not until ten o'clock at night that | sho moved. The shoal was about 300 yds. I outside the .mole,*. Unfortunately the , steamer struck another bank and on this I she has remained ever since. She is lying I parallel with and on tho north side of ' the mole, about 300 yds. from tho beach. 1 The 'salvage tfig Terawhiti arrived : from Wellington at six o'clock this evening, but will do nothing until morning. All the holds arc* full of water, showing !that the damage is serious. The Terawhiti | will probably be first set to pump out the | water to see if tho leakages can be 1 stopped. Then the salvage of the cargo will be undertaken. The weather cor.dir , lions have improved. t |j CIGHS OF STRAINING. v ■ BACK MA>" BE BROKEN. f [EY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] V/ANGAXUI, Monday. The Cyrena is lying north of the moles fijid fairly close into tho beach. The 1 lighter Mana went out this morning to lay a stern anchor. Most of the officers and crew are ashore. ; 'All the holds arc full of water but the engine room, which is Situated aft, is dry. Lloyd's surveyor lias not yet arrived, find no information as to the steps to be taken in rega/d to the steamer can be obtained. It is stated that the steamer is badly strained, a number of plates being i buckled, and there are fears, so far not founded on actual investigation, that the Cyrena's back is broken.