THE WRECK OF THE S.S. HAWEA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 8209, 14 June 1888, Page 2

THE WRECK OF THE S.S. HAWEA.

■ (F«a Unitbd Pbesb Association.) • ' New FiiTMODTH,JuneI3. The Hawea shows no signs of having moved. Stadis upright, and has not bumped in the least. Opinions are that she can be easily floated, as she is in no way strained. : Some of the crew went off to the vessel this morning, but could get nothing belonging to '. them. The cabins and engine room are full of water. Some people think that serious injury has been done to the vessel's bottom by the way that she has sunk since she stranded. * The officers and crew will be paid off here, > and most will leave for the South in the Wanaka on Saturday. The inquiry was opened to-day. Captain Hansby stated that he anchored off the breakwater about 11 o'clock on Monday i night. The weather was equally, with a chop- ; ping sea. At 5.30 on Thursday morning he pre- ' pared to go into harbour, aDd hove in about 15 ' fathoms of cable. The s.s. Gairbch was close by, and just before entering he stopped the vessel and reversed the engines to let the Gairloch go in first. He then came in, with the leading lights a little open to the west. When > he saw breakers on the bank off the end of the ' breakwater he starboarded the helm, and when abreast of the bank put the helm hard to port to haul up to the wharf, and put the engines at half-speed. He saw that she was not answering | her helm on account of the fresh breeze on her broadside,' and stopped the engines and let go ths starboard anchor and went ahead slow, with the helm hard a'-port, thinking that the anchor would check her bow to windward. She came round a couple of points, when he felt tha vessel 9 touch on her keel lightly aft. He went halfspeed, as he thought, and touched the bank. Immediately after he felt her strike heavily & second ! time and saw that her way had been stopped. He • sounded the wellsand foundhernotmakingwater. [ At about 8.30 the cable of the starboard anchor parted, and the vessel drifted to where she now ' is and got aground. At high water the fore hold filled with water. He got the passengers and crew ashore. Witness and the chief mate " were the last to leave the vessel. She cost £35,000 to build in 1875. He had been in before on the same state of the tide, which was at halfflood. The boat's usual draught was from 12ft Sin to 13ft. There was 14ft under her bow. When the cable_ parted with 18 fathoms out the vessel drifted into the 12-fathom' line, where -i she now is submerged. Ho did not overrun hit ' anchor. Chief-mate Waller's evidence was similar tc the captain's. ■.''■.. The other witnesses examined were Messrf Bannatyne, James M'lvor, Wilkinson, and thf harbourmaster. . , ; The preliminary inquiry then closed. :