VESSELS ADRIFT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17228, 7 April 1930, Page 5

VESSELS ADRIFT

EXCITEMENT AT NAPIER HEAVY SEAS Heavy seas were experienced at Napier last week, and were so threatening in violence Hit many residents of Hardinge road were considerably alarmed for the safety of tbeir properties. At high tide on Friday night seas were breaking over the roadway, which was flooded in many places and rockstrewn. The- sea water failed to run away rapidly, and gradually found its wav to the lower level of the residential area. Tlio pounding of the seas tended to still further alarm the residents, for the seas were breaking over the width of the roadway. A large quantity of the protective rock was smashed by the force of the storm across the roadway at irregular intervals.

About 9 o’clock, the Huru, Richardson and Co.’s old coastal steamer, which Inis been moored for some time at the lower end of the West Quay, with the trawler Nanrnai moored alongside, parted her moorings. At the time there was a rush of water down the harbor channel, the lido having almost reached ils [teak, and apparently chafing had worn away some of the moorings so that they were not able to stand the heavy strain and snapped. The current almost immediately swung the two vessels broadside on and with a crash against the piles of the Wostsbore i ridge, where they remained, held as in a vice by the rush of water. The tugs Kuril ami Ooralio w«ie requisitioned to take the larger vessel back to her moorings, |bnt this proved a difficult task. After a while the winches of two lighters were brought into commission, and after some heavy pulling the Rum’s' bow .swung clear to face the entrance to the harbor, but her stern remained fast. Ropes snapped under the strain, but all Hie efforts were to no purpose, and with the passing of high tide there was a gradual lessening of hopes until it Was decided shortly after midnight to make, the Rum secure for the night and leave her with hei stern settled on the sand bank.

Next morning the vessel was hard and fast a few yards from the end ot the wharf. The other vessel appeared to lie resting on the. piles of Hie old bridge.

The Rum was successfully refloated at high tide and towed back to her original position at tho wharf, the same procedure being followed with the other vessel. —Telegraph.