A TOTAL LOSS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11436, 5 February 1923, Page 5

A TOTAL LOSS

KETCH EDNA WRECKED VESSEL SINKS WITH CARGO OF DYNAMITE. CARGO FOR VARIOUS PORTS (Specie! to "N.Z. Time*.”) AUCKLAND, February 3. During the height of the . easterly gale that PJ*v«led » vicinity o» Paronga Head?, the Ketcn Edna, of 30 tons, went ashore dunug the night just north ofthe .heads, and is now n total loss. This information was conveved in a massage received by the Collector of Customs at Auckland, from Awanui. Mr GE. bell, the local agent for Nobel s Explosive Company, Ltd., the owners of the Edna, received the following telegram from the master. Captain rift. Burke, at 9.2s:—"Edna total loss. Had take heach ntorth of Parenga Heads'; all hands safe: proceeding to Auckland bv steamer Waiotahi. The Edna left Marateai on Saturlav last, with 20 tons of Nobel’s explosives for New Plymouth. Westport and Greymouth, a quantity of gelignite being for the Public Works Department at New Plymouth, and the remainder for the mines at Westport and Greymouth. It is not vet known whether the cargo iVis been lost, in faab, th*t pwigTo particulars to hand nr© akely to be supplemented until Captain Burke and his crew wUI arrive in port by the Waiotahi. The crew comprise the master, who is not ried, and resides in Ponsonby, and two A.B.’e, Messrs B. Lewis and xi. Redfern. Captain Burke only recently gained hia master’s certificate, and this was his second voyage m c°n3' mand of the Edna. Previously he had been chief officer of the Rira, and second officer of the Huia, other vessels owned by Nobel’s Explosives Company, Ltd. He is well known in Auckland and is a man with considerable experience. The spot where the Edna was wrecked is a rugged and exposed one, with manv sandspits and rocks. The Edna was a staunch little vessel, well found in every way, and was built 17 years ago by Bailey and Lowe, at Auckland. She had only recently been thoroughly overhauled and re-coppered. and was in excellent seaworthy condition. For many years she has been engaged in carrying exploeives between Auckl - and Paeroa. Thames, Whangarei, and the West Coast ports of the South Island, and in lightering ocean-going Tosaels. She has previously made successful voyages in rough weather to New Plymouth.- She had a carrying capacity for over 30 tons, and altogether was a most useful vessel. The hull and cargo were insured for £SOOO at Home, but at the present time she could not be replaced by the luAurncxe. Mr Campbell stated that as regards the cargo of gelignite, a reoresentativ- from the Government _ Explosive Department.. Wellington, will, in all /roSability, visit the scene of the wreck to make sure that all risks of explosion *>re minimised in the interest of public safety. THE LATEST CARGO APPARENTLY INTACT. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 3. The captain of the Rona wires that the vessel is right in the centre of the channel at Parenga harbour, resting on the bar. Apparently the cargo is intact. At low water the mast is visible. FURTHER DETAILS VESSEL SIX FATHOMS DEEP. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 4. Details of the loss of the Edna show that a northern storm, with heavy rain squalls, raised a considerable sea. The weather was thick and dirty, and no land could be seen, when, shortly before 11 a.m., breakers were sighted a short distance .to leeward. The vessel was under reduced sail, more being set. to try and beat to sea, but the vessel drifted on to a sandspit. Captain Burke and his two men, after landing, remained near at hand in the hope of salvage, spending the night in the scrub, but the storm prevented any action. During the night the Edna slipped off the sandspit on the ebbing tide, sinking in six fathoms of water. The vessel is considered a total loss, and it is doubtful if the cargo of gelignite can be recovered.