STRANDING OF THE BRUCE AT OKARITA.

West Coast Times, Issue 252, 13 July 1866, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE BRUCE AT OKARITA.

[Thfl following was accidentally omitted in our yesterday's issue.] After an unbroken run of good luck for many months past, the p.s. Bruce has, like the pitcher, gone to the well once too often ; aud we have much regret in stating that she is now high and dry upon the beach between the entrance to the Okarita river and Rock's point. It -will bo remembered that she left this port for Dunedin via Okarita last Saturday evening, and arrived off that bar during' the night. At daylight on Sunday tho weather came on exceedingly thick aud rainy, which, however, did not deter Cnpt. Kcvloy from raisinghis anchor andsteamingforthe entrance. A very heavy sea was running, and breaking a long way in tho offing, and when tho^ flagstaff was sighted it was found tliat the Bruce was too far to the southward, and that a strong southerly current was running. This, combined with the heavy surf, was too much for tho little boat; for after a desperate struggle to regain her lost ground by edging across the seas, she became unmanageable, and broached-to with her lee rail under. Sea after sea broke on board her, smashing in the companion door and filling the cabin with water to a level with the table, and once it was feared she would fill and go down, when the lives of all on board must have been sacrificed. She, however, kept afloat, and finally took the ground some distance south of the river mouth, and was soon hove up high and dry on the beach. Her cargo was discharged as soon as possible, and fortunately (save some sugar) foimd to bo but very slightly damaged. We are informed that the Bruce lies in a very awkward position, as a wide tongue of sand seperates her from the river, which will — to float her — necessitate a long overland passage or a re-launch through the surf ; and the latter procedure will be next to impossible without the assistance of a powerful steam tug and a continuation of fine weather and smooth water, which can* hardly be expected at this season of the year. Mr Greer, the agent, who was on board the Bruce when she came to grief, seems sanguine th»t she will come off uninjured, and an attempt was made to move her seawards, by laying out-an anchor and warp 3 and according to our last advices she was shifted twenty feet in three tides. We fear, however, that an overland trip is inevitable, which will entail a heavy expense upon the Company, and a mouth or six weeks' loss of time to the Bruce. - ,