KETCH PILED ON REEF.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19957, 28 May 1928, Page 8

KETCH PILED ON REEF.

WRECK OF THE GLENAE. LOSS OF LIFE FEARED. THE CAPTAIN AND MATE. MISHAP OFF PUHOI RIVER. Lying bottom up with both masts snapped of?, and in a considerably battered condition, the 13-tons ketch Glenae, owned by Mrs. Rose Couldrey, of Stafford Road, Northcote, was found wrecked on a bank of particularly treacherous rocks off the mouth of the Puhoi River, north of Waiwera, early on Saturday evening. Fears are entertained for the safety of Captain A. H. Mitchell, master of the vessel, and Mr. 0. T. McLeod, the mate, who comprised the crew. The wreck was discovered by Captain R. Collins, master of the schooner Jane Gifford, which was at the time running for shelter to Waiwera. Masters of coastal vessels state the weather was exceptionally rough on Friday and Saturday, and the seas in Hauraki Gulf were the heaviest experienced for some considerable time. Numerous small craft put into bays along the coast in order to escape the strong easterly gale,' which at times was blowing with almost hurricane force and was driving before it great white-crested breakers. Anchor and Windlass Torn Away. As the Jane Gifford passed the mouth of the Puhoi River, a large object loomed up indistinctly in the gathering gloom, in the direction of the rocks some disfance from the shore. For a time it was impossible to distinguish it clearly, but, sailing as close as he considered safe in the circumstances, Captain Collins recognised the outlines of the Gienae. The vessel was being badly battered by the huge waves, which were throwing great volumes ,of water over the rocks. Through showers of spray, those on the Jane Gifford saw the wrecked vessel had overturned completely. The masts had been snapped off near the deck, and considerable damage had been done forward. The rough seas made it impossible for the Jane Gifford to remain long in the vicinity in order to make a close examination of the hull. However, during the short time the schooner stood off the wrecked vessel, it was seen the ketch'"; anchor had been torn away and with ifc the windlass at the bow. No signs of life were seen. Sea Too Rough For Search. News of the wreck was reported to the Warkworth police by Captain Collins immediately on arrival at Waiwera. The local constable visited the scene yesterday, but as the weather had not moderated to any extent, it was found to be futile to undertake any close investigation of the wrecked ketch. Huge wera still running, but the ketch was high on the rocks, and was then not being very badly buffeted. It is not known definitely in Auckland where the ketch was bound when the wreck occurred. The vessel was under charter to Captain Mitchell, who left port last Wednesday. It is believed he in tended to load timber at Kawau Island. The police endeavoured to communicate with the island yesterday by means of wireless, but their efforts were unsuccessful, so that it is not known whether the ketch had already called there or not. May Have Landed on the Island. There is a possibility that Captan Mitchell and Mr. McLeod managed to land on one of the small islands in Whangaparaoa Bay. In view of the fact that-the anchor and windlass had been torn away, it is thought the vessel had been sheltering from the gale on the leeward side of an island, and that the anchor was not sufficient to hold the ketch in the storm. A thorough search of islands in the vicinity will be made by the VTarkworth police to-day. The Glenae was constructed of wood and was built at Omaha in 1904. She had only just been reconditioned, and new sails were also fitted a short time ago. The principal dimensions of fhe ketch are:— Length, 57ft.; breadth, 16ft.; and depth, 3ft.