NGAHERE ASHORE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 47

NGAHERE ASHORE.

IN HOPELESS POSITION. GREYMOUTII. May 12. The steamer Ngahere went ashore when departing over tho Grey bar at 3 p.m. to-day with a full cargo of timber and coal for Wellington. The steamer Regulus preceded her out, and whistled to denote touching the bottom, blit the tide was rising, and it was believed that there would be more water when the Ngahere sailed. It is stated that the bow touched first, then amidships, the bow swinging northwards. The south-westerly wind and the rollers pinned the ship to the North Tiphead right on the spot where the steamer Perth was lost a few years ago. The Ngahere’s crew of 23 had a trying time for over an hour while the seas were breaking across tho vessel, shifting the deck cargo overboard and uncovering the hatches. By the aid of rockets, lines were got on board from the shore, and the 23 men were rescued at intervals of a few minutes, all being landed before 5.30. The vessel settled in the sen, swinging as on a pivot amidships. She is considered to be practically a total loss. Nothing was saved by the crew. GPLYMOUTH. May 13. The Ngahere is in a hopeless position, with a slight list to port. There is a very small prospect of any salvage. Attempts will be made to salvage the mails and the crew’s effects when the sea moderates. A preliminary inquiry was opened this afternoon. The Ngahere is a steel screw steamer of IOSO tons, and was built by A. Rodger and Co., of Glasgow, in 1908. Her principal dimensions are as follow: —Length, 225 ft; breadth, 33ft lin; depth, 15ft 7in.