VESSEL AGROUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21515, 12 June 1933, Page 8

VESSEL AGROUND

MISHAP AT RIVER MOUTH SMALL COASTAL TRADER EFFORTS TO REFLOAT FAIL NO DAMAGE ANTICIPATED [llY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION*! CHRISTCHURCH. Sunday Tlie motor-vessel Foxton ran aground on the north spit at the mouth of the Waimakariri River at six o'clock last evening. The Foxton was inward bound from Wellington to the port of Kaiapoi. She had crossed the bar successfully, but in making the sharp turn into the mouth of the river caught the tail of the north spit. An unsuccessful attempt was made to refloat the Foxton at high tide this morning and another attempt was made at high water this evening, when the tide was higher than in the morning. In addition to using the vessel's engines an effort was made to kedge her clear, but she did not move. At present there is 110 wind and very little swell, so the Foxton is in no danger The master, Captain A. G. Baggett, hopes to get the vessel clear on the tide to-morrow morning. It is thought she will have suffered no damage as she was specially built to work bar harbours. However, if a big north-easterly or south-easterly swell were to arise her position might be serious. The Foxton has on board a small cargo of whale oil for the twine works near Kaiapoi. She is a vessel of 224 tons and is owned by the Canterbury Stean^, Ship Company. She was built by Mr. G. T. Niccol at Auckland in 1929.