SMALL KETCH STRANDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 8

SMALL KETCH STRANDED.

MISHAP OFF BROWN'S ISLAND THE DAMAGE NOT EXTENSIVE. The small wooden ketch ELatca stranded on a reef off Brown'u Inland in the Hanraki Gulf on Sunday evening when an route from Coromandel to Auckland with a cargo of shingle. Mr. J. Brain, a representative of the owners, Winstone, Limited, visited the stranded vessel yesterday afternoon a.nd reported she was not extensively damaged. The shingle cargo was being jettisoned. The Harbour Board's Firefloat was engaged to pamp out the water. The ketch was refloated and towed to port by the Firefloat, arriving shortly before midnight. ■ The Firefloat remained alongsida for the night with the pumps going. The Kiatea is a vessel of 20 tons, and was built at Auckland ia 1907. The crow numbers three, Captain A. W Humphries being master. This is not fche first mishap in her career. On November 10, 1924, when owned by A. S. Paterson, Limited, tho ketch was nearly destroyed through an explosion. 8b o was anchored off Nelson Wharf with a full cargo of benzine on board. A sailor went into the forepeak to light tho riding-light and when he struck a match the accumulated gas in the compartment exploded and blew two holss in the bow. The sailor was severely burned.