MISHAP TO VESSEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21136, 19 March 1932, Page 10

MISHAP TO VESSEL.

SMALL MOTOR-SHIP TOA.

GROUNDED AT WHAKATANE. / NO DAMAGE TO HULL. EARLY REFLOATING EXPECTED. [BY TELEGRAM. —OWN conRESPONDENT.] WHAKATANE. Friday. The Northern Steamship Company's motor-vessel Toa, 208 tons, grounded on the bar in the western channel this afternoon and is now lying in 2ft.. of water at low tide. It. is hoped to refloat the vessel at high fide at 3 a.m. to morrow. No damage has been caused to the hull or the cargo, and at a, late hour this evening the weather was fairly calm, with a light breeze. Owing to the long-continued spell of dry weather in the district there has not been sufficient water in the Whakatane River to scour out the channels and tho bar has been a hindrance to shipping for a considerable period. The Toa arrived outside on Wednesday, but was unable to enter the channel, owing to tho shallowness of the water at the entrance. Yesterday she attempted to enter and again had to put to sea. To-day, following tho Harbour Board launch the Toa attempted to come through the western channel, which is not often used. At the time tho eastern channel was showing only 4ft. 6in., while it is understood the western channel was showing 6ft. At the western beacon the vessel ran aground and since 2.30 p.m. she has been on the sand. Efforts to refloat her have been unsuccessful. The company's auxiliary boat Otimai was recalled from Opotiki and is now standing by, together with several launches. 111-luck dogged a Harbour Board launch which went to tho Toa's assistance. First the propeller fouled tho anchor line and the launch had to be towed back to port. On its return to tho scene of the stranding the launch also ran aground near the Toa. It is hoped that the launch will be refloated at high tide to-morrow morning. The cargo on the Toa consists mainly of benzine and general merchandise for Whakatane. The Toa is a wooden motor-vessel and was built at Auckland by Mr. George Niccol in 1928. She is fitted with two Bollander engines each of 90 h.p., driving twin screws. Like a number of-vesscls of her type built by Mr. Niccol she has an exceptionally strong hull, having been specially constructed for trading to shallow ports where "there are bar harbours. The crew numbers ten, and Captain L. McDonald is the master.