MISHAP TO THE RIMU.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13831, 19 February 1907, Page 5

MISHAP TO THE RIMU.

AGROUND IN PATTERSON'S INLET. : A niishan occurred to the Eimu at Patterson's Inlet on Friday afternoon. She had loaded a, part cargo of timbor at Oul|it»'e will, and whilo trying to mako tho offing she ran aground on u place- called Muil Island, and stuck fast. Sho went sgrqund near the top of high water, and all attempt! to float her off failed. On Saturday evening the liivercargill was despatched to her assistance, but failed lo tow her off, Tho tides am falling off daily, and it is. expected that the Riniu will have to remain in ■ her present position until tho spring tides, about a. week hence. There is nol the slightest possibility of serious dafigei to the sleamer, as she is aground in one of the safest bays in tho co!ony,anrl her refionling is simply a matter of waiting for t favourable tide. At. tbo time she groundec there was about 16,000 ft ot timber on board,and although it wns promptly put over tlie sido it did not lighten her sufficiently to' lot her Boat oft* again. .Tho Invcrcurjtill service will ho maintained by. tho invcrcarijill, which return. 1 ) from Waikawii. with timber to-day, and,' after discharging and loading, sails again this evening for Invercargill. THE ACCIDENT TO THE RAKIUIIA. ATTEMPT TO TOW HER OFF. AX EXCITING INCIDENT.

Reports as to llm position of tho s.s Rakiura (whicli went aground at Villsher. Bay) to iiand yesterday state that tho weather cleared in the morning and the sea was sufficiently cnlro to permit Captain Spenco to stand closn in shore, eonso.juentlj. tho Koputui anchored just' beyond tho breakers. About 7 a.m. Mr Scollny (chic) niaic) ami ono of the seamen (A. O'SulHvail) wont out to the tug in the steamer , ! boat and brought, a line ashore, by means of which a. strong hawser was hauled oft. and made fast to the ltakiura. Before got* ting ashore, however, the men had n. ytofiW ous experience througli the boat capsizing in tho breakers. Scollny got. on thfl keel of tlio boat, but it rolled over two or three times. O'Siillivan, who had on n lifflMt. lric<l to swiin ashore, but was a. good deal knocked about in Iho breakers. Seeing his <lnnger, Ccorgc Silver (one of tho Ilnkiurn's llrcmcti) stripped and went to his assist-, anco, bringing him ashore in an exhausted slate; but ho soon recovered. An attempt was made to tow the vessel off about. 6 p.m.. but the. Koputui was unable to shift the Rakiura, which is still lying safely on the. beach. Sho has sustained no damage. , whatever, and.presont indications arc that the vessel will have to remain where sho is until tho return of spring tides, which aro duo about the. 27th met. According to a. message, received by Mr K. S. Eamsay Into last evening, the tug was towing aw«y at duel:, but up to the time the messenger left I here wns no apprcciablo difference la the Itnkinra'6 position.