ACCIDENT TO THE APHRASIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 327, 7 January 1863, Page 4

ACCIDENT TO THE APHRASIA.

The Prince Alfred, on her passage from Port Otaeo to the Bluff, encountered the heavy gale from W § W. which resulted in the loss of the barque Time and Truth. From 3 o'clock on the morning of the 3rd until her arrival at the anchorage outside

Bluli Harbor, 4 p m., it bluw with hurricane force lieuU against her, and eaus;d the passage to bo protracted ti> 23 hours. A vessel of ordinary power could not possibly have made any head-way against the gale, but the " Alfred," having great power, was enabled to reach the anchorage at the above time. The steamer Aphrasia was nt anchor where the Prince' Alfred brought up, and was damaged to the extent of thirty or forty pounds by the latter vessel striking her on the stern post. The' accident occurral in this wise:—ln steaming to the anchorage ' the stem of tlw Prince Alfred got into slack wat.tr, while her stern was exposed to the full force of the tide-way. Consequently, although her helm was hard over, her bows paid off and struck the Aphrasia. Fortunately the Prince Alfred was steaming " quite slow," or the damages would have been much more serious, the wind blowing at the time so hard that the pilot could not venture out to board, her until she came close under the land. The Prince Alfred -left the Blutf nt 5.30 p.m. on the sth. and arrived here on Tuesday, nt 330 p.m. On the upward pas-sasre-sbo had to contend against a strong northerly ' wind until within twenty iml«s ot Port Clialmers, when a strong gale from the westward sprang up.