STEAMER RUNS AGROUND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23320, 13 April 1939, Page 10

STEAMER RUNS AGROUND

NINE HOURS ON MUD-BANK FLOATED OFF AT HIGH TIDE [by telegbaph OWN cobbespondent] WHANGAREI, Wednesday While coming up the Whanjrarei River to the town wharf at four o'clock this morning the Northern Steamship Company's steamer Kapiti ran aground some distance up from Kioreroa. As the tide was almost at half ebb at the time the vessel could not be refloated until the flood tidp was more than half in earl}' this afternoon. The channel up the river is rather narrow and tortuous, and as it is unlighted it is difficult to navigate in the dark. The coastal boats using thf town wharf quite frequently run on the mud while coming up the river, but as the trip is usually made on the flood tide it is generally a matter of a short wait for the tide to rise, and the boat is refloated. The Kapiti remained on the mudbank for nine hours but was not damaged. She came up the river and unloaded her cargo and sails again on the return trip to Auckland on tonight's tide.