SHIP ASHORE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 10

SHIP ASHORE

GOLDEN HARVEST REEF AT WELLINGTON refloating attempts TOGS' EFFORTS FAIL WATER ENTERS HULL [BY TKLIIGBArH —ritESS ASSOCIATION - ! WELLING TON. Tuesday The steamer Golden Harvest, outward bound for Melbourne, ran on to Barrett's reef" at Wellington Heads about 5.30 o'clock this evening. A southerly wind was blowing and the weather was thick. The tugs Toia and Terawhiti aro standing by. The reef runs out from the eastern side of the harbour entrance. Owing to the difficulty of communication to-night details of the accident are meagre and the actual cause is not known.

The Golden Harvest, which is fairly heavily laden with cargo for Australia, was still hard and fast on the rocks at a late hour. It is reported the vessel is making water forward, and there aro indications of fairly serious damage to her underwater plating. Pumps Put Into Action The Harbour Board's tug Toia, with the harbourmaster, Captain .T. Spence, left about seven o'clock and the pilot launch Arahina followed. The Union Company's tug Terawhiti left about 9 o'clock. When it was found that the Golden Harvest was making water the pumps were put into action. Between 10 and 11 o'clock both the Toia and the Terawhiti endeavoured to tow the ship off the rocks, but were not able to shift her. The tide is low. It lias been receding from about 8.30, so there is every likelihood of the ship remaining fast all night. Searchlights from Fort Dorset are being used to aid the tugs. At 5.40 p.m. the auxiliary scow Echo, inward-bound from Blenheim, sighted the Golden Harvest, which appeared to be stopped. The Echo, which is a very low-powered vessel, was not in a position to render any assistance, and kept on her way up the harbour. Report from Signalman Captain Radford said the steamer appeared to be close to the outer rock of Barrett's Reef, but according to information received from the signaiman on Beacon Hill she is aground on the north end of the reef. . In addition to the usual assortment of general merchandise, the Golden Harvest is carrying a heavy deck load of Oregon pine for Australia.

When she left the wharf at dusk the weather was fairly good, with a light southerly wind. By 1 a.m. the wind had commenced to freshen, and it was feared that the situation would become dangerous if a stiff southerly developed. The tugs arc standing by ready to take the crew off if there is any real danger. »

HISTORY OF STEAMER MANY TRIPS TO DOMINION The Golden Harvest is an American steamer of 5644 tons and was built at San Francisco in 1920. She was formerly owned by the United States Shipping Board and was then named the West Calera. She is now owned by the Oceanic and Oriental Navigation Company, which is a branch company of the Matson Line. Both as the West Calera and the Golden Harvest the vessel has been for a long period in the transpacific cargo service and has made many voyages from Pacific Coast ports to New Zealand and Australia.

On her present voyage the vessel arrived at Auckland from Pacific Coast ports last Thursday evening and sailed at mid-day on Friday for Wellington, Melbourne and Sydney. She reached Wellington on Monday afternoon and after unloading a quantity of general cargo she resumed her voyage yesterday. The cargo on board the vessel when tho accident occurred consisted of lumber in the lower holds and general cargo on the 'tween decks. Captain J. G. Hansen is in command of the steamer. SCENE OF MANY MISHAPS RECORD OF THE REEF Barrett's Reef has been responsible for a number of shipping mishaps. The following is a list of some of the vessels which have struck on tho reef: — Barque Sobraon, stranded 1848. Barque Earl of South Esk, stranded 1874. Schooner Hunter, stranded April., 1876. Vessel Napier, stranded December, 1882. Schooner Clansman, stranded October, 1897. Steamer Haupiri, stranded November, 1910. In addition a considerable number of other vessels have been stranded in the vicinity of Wellington Heads, and somo of them became total wrecks.