OLD SHIP'S GHOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22005, 11 January 1935, Page 10

OLD SHIP'S GHOST

WHERE THE GAIRLOCH LIES WRECK OF 32 YEARS AGO Campers at Oakura, near New Plymouth, often look reflectively out to sea where the bow of a wrecked vessel is visible above the surf. They wonder what manner of ship it was and how it camo by its end, the Taranaki News, but onl/ a few residents whose memory goes back 32 years know that it was once the steamer Gairloch, built at Glasgow for the Onehunga-Waitara run carried on by the Northern Steam Ship Company. Her wreck meant a total loss of over £12,000.

On her last voyage the Gairloch left Kawhia for Opunake on the afternoon of January 5, 1903. The night came on moonless but clear enough for the Gairloch to recognise the Ngapuhi, a ship of the same line, as she passed her. In a light wind she travelled another 10 miles or so before she struck a large reef slightly south of the Timaru River. About midnight rockets were sent up and at New Plymouth startled residents, many dreading an earthquake or a bombardment, heard noises as if from a cannon. A party on Oakura beach lighted a fire to indicate how distant land was. The watchers saw lights moving about, apparently as if on water, but soon these disappeared. When daylight . dawned the Gairloch lay abandoned, the davits outward slung and the ropes still hanging, but neither boats nor crew were in sight.

At half past six in the morning the crew all arrived at the Moturoa wharf, safe and cheerful, having suffered very little discomfort after their voyage in the open boats. On landing they were hospitably received by New Plymouth citizens. Salvage operations began almost at once.

The curious feature about the wreck was that the ship appeared to have been heading straight for the shore. At the inquiry the master admitted laying the course wrong, but he stated that the same course had previously proved safe. The court decided that he had made an error of judgment in hugging the coast so closely on a dark night. His certificate was suspended for three months and he was ordered to pay £lO toward the cost of the inquiry.