SALVAGE WORK ABANDONED

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1934, Page 6

SALVAGE WORK ABANDONED

KAPUI A COMPLETE WRECK. HEAVY SEAS PLAY HAVOC. Salvage work on the Taranaki Shipping Company’s coastal ship Kapui, which went ashore 300 yards north of the Mokau River last Tuesday, has definitely been abandoned. The vessel was subject to a severe buffeting during the last few days and the greater part of the upper structure has been washed away. Raging seas have deposited sand, within a foot of the Kapui’s decking and the ship now lies held hard and fast. Her cargo of coal has been salvaged; When the vessel first grounded it was expected she would be refloated as soon as her cargo of between 30 and 40 tons of coal was removed. However, subsequent stormy weather has made this accomplishment impossible. Angry seas have played havoc with the vessel. The deck railing and bulwarks have been completely demolished. The cook’s galley, which was of a flimsy nature and secured to the decking by bolts, was early carried away. The hull appears in-' tact, but 'the hold becomes filled with water each tide. As the tide ebbs the vessel empties. The salvage gang succeeded between tides in saving the whole of the ship’s, cargo. All fittings that were removable have been taken ashore, and it is understood that later efforts will be made to salvage the oil engine. With but a lone mast standing, her bulwarks gone and sand up to within a foot of her decking the Kapui*provided a sorry sight last night, when she was continuously battered by heavy breakers, which at times completely enveloped the wreck. Th: fury of last night’s spring tides has led Mokau residents to believe that the Kapui will be completely destroyed by to-day’s tides.

The Kapui has traded between Mokau and Waitara for many years carrying cargoes of coal from Mokau collieries. She is owned by the Taranaki Shipping Company and is about 50 tons gross. Captain George Lang was in charge when the mishap occurred. She carried a crew of four.