THE STORMBIRD ASHORE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1354, 10 February 1898, Page 32

THE STORMBIRD ASHORE.

The Wellington Steam Packet Co.’s steamer Stormbird, which left this port in charge of Captain Gilbertson on Tuesday afternoon for Wanganui, took the ground inside the bar at the latter port at about 6 o’olook yesterday week. An attempt to get her off on the evening’s tide proved unsuccessful, owing to the heavy sea and strong wind prevailing. As the wind and sea at the Wanganui bar had moderated considerably on Thursday morning, an attempt was made to get the Stormbird off, the result being that < be steamer was shifted about three-quarters of her own length riverwards. Luckily, no damage to either hull or cargo has resulted through the aocident. Another attempt to float the steamer was made in the evening, when the vessel was moved another 10ft. _ The steamer was got off on Friday, after 25 tons of cargo had been discharged.. Unfortunately her propeller got foul of a wire hawser. A telegram states that some of the plates have been injured. The Stormbird is now on the hard at Wanganui undergoing temporary repairs, so as to render her seaworthy for the trip down to Wellington, both the surveyors (Captain ?onas, of the Kiripaka, and Captain Graham, of the Charles Edward) having refused to allow her to sail until some necessary repairs had been exeouted. There was about 10 tons of sand in her near the after bulkhead, and she is making water. The ship’s pumps were insufficient to cope with the inflow of water, and other pumping apparatus was requisitioned. The Huia left for Wanganui on Monday afternoon with Captain Bendall and Mr Seagar (part owner) as passengers, who took with them additional pumping apparatus, but after she had ooaled at the hulks it was thought prudent to posther departure until early nest morning on aocount of the heavy weather. The Cjreti will take up the Stormbird’s running for the present.