THE MAGGIE PATERSON ON THE ROCKS AT THE HEADS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9456, 23 July 1881, Page 2

THE MAGGIE PATERSON ON THE ROCKS AT THE HEADS.

The news that the schooner Maggie Paterson had gone ashore near Pencarrow lighthouse created considerable excitement in town yesterday, which was only allayed by it becoming known that Captain Holliday Harbourmaster, had received a telegram, stating that "all hands were saved." The intelligence to hand, up to last evening, was of the most meagre description., and is contained in the following copy of the telegram referred to, forwarded by Pilot Holmes : — fi Topsail schooner on the rocks close to the boat.landing, under Pencarrow. The sea is not very heavy at the Heads, but too much at present for me to land on the other side." Subsequently another wire was received, giving the name of the vessel as the Maggie Paterson, and intimating that all hands were saved. No further particulars came to hand during the day, but it is considered probable that Captain Paterson, in endeavouring to enter the Heads during the night, was driven out of his course by the southerly gale which prevailed during Tuesday night and that, being unable to sec the Pencarrow light, owing to the thick weather and blinding rain which prevailed, thus went ashore. The Maggie Paterson was een by Captain Campbell of the Kiwi as he came in yesterday morning, and lie reports that the vessel did not appear to have received much damage, and was lying bow on to a sandy beach, the water in her locality being comparatively smooth. Captain Campbell favours the view that the Maggie Paterson wiil not sustain any great damage, and will, by the lightening of her cargo, be easily got off. The schooner, which is conjointly owned by Captain Paterson and Mr K Ramsay, of Dunedin, is topsail-rigged, of 84 tons register, and is insured for £1200 in the National Insurance Co., half the risk being reinsured in the New Zealand Insurance Co. She loft Greyaiouih on Tuesday, 12 iust., laden with coal lor Dunedin. Captain ilt'iidall, on behaif of the underwriters, will proceed to the spot and will lake steps to get the schooner off. — N.Z. Times, 21st July.