STRANDING OF THE WAIPARA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4227, 7 October 1874, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE WAIPARA.

The Orci/mouth Artius of the 2Dth ultimo says :- When the Waipara was discovered, at midday on Sunday, outside the bar, It was never supposed by a single onlooker that her captain would make an attempt to enter the river, and a feeling of alarm and wonderment was expressed when it became evident that he intended to do so. "Without seeming to wait for a moment after coming up, he stood straight in, disregarding the warning, "bar dangerous," put up by the signalman, and his progress was watchod by numbers upon the wharf, from balconies, and from under the verandahs, despite the Inclemency of a most inclement day. That the attempt has proved a failure is what most of those who witnessed it expected, and what many foretold. A passenger saya the Walpara left Uokitika at nine o'clock, and crossed that bar very successfully, although there was a heavy S.W. sea; the vessel arrived off Greymonth about ono o clock, when the captain at once headed her for the bar. It was seen that the signal of " bar dangerous " was up, but that the captain took no heed of it, as he had often crossed it before when such was shown. The bar was safely crossed, but In a moment threo immense billows thundered one after another upon the 111-fated boat, and in a few seconds she was rendered helpless. Several more monstrous waves followed, but the evil had already been done. The third wave breaking upon her stern, had smashed the bulwarks for about sixteen feet, besides filling tho engino-room and putting the fires out. Seeing this the captain ordered sail to be sot, but Immediately upon the attempt being made, succeeding rollers striking the vessel, smashed her rudder chain and main boom, carrying away ber mainsail. This culminated

the disaster, and Captain Bascand at once determined to beach her. s She was, however, lying upon a flat and between it and the beach was a narrowshallow channel, through which a branch of the river was running with great velocity. It was endeavoured to get a hawser ashore from the vessel, and a retriever dog was first started with a thin line to somo men on the beach, but after a most sustained and plucky attempt, lasting until he was thoroughly exhausted, it was found necessary to haul the dog on board. The next attempt was made by sending a lifebuoy overboard, to which a line was attached, and this succeeded. By this means the captain was, at high water, enabled to get from his perilous position to a safe one on the north spit. About a do; on of the passengers got ashore on Sunday evening at eleven o'clock, and distributed themselves among the various houses on the beach, the rest remaining on board. The remainder left the vessol yesterday morning, when all their luggage was safely landed, and the cargo was being rapidly discharged. During her stay upon the flat the Waipara received a severe bumping, but she docs not seem to have experienced much injury. The passengers commenced to come across the river yesterday, and their arrival was attended with some excitement. His Honor Judge Richmond, two ladles, and others, however, remained behind until to-day, when the river will, it is to be hoped, have fallen. The Star of the 30th ult. says;—We have much pleasure in announcing the successful launching of the s.s Waipara, which was accomplished at high water without the assistance of any other vessel. She improved her position a good deal yesterday, and Captain Bascand's untiring exertions were rewarded this morning with the success that they undoubtedly deserve. The vessel lies in the river behind Flagstaff Point, where we understand it is intended to beach her for the purpose of ascertaining the exact damage she has sustained. As neither the captain ror any of the crew have yet arrived in town, it is impossible to get any further particulars of the cause of the accident. Several passengers on board at the time request us to state that Captain Bascand's behaviour in an hour of considerable danger was all that could be desired, and to his coolness and ability may be attributed the fact of the consequences of the mishap not proving moro disastrous.