WRECK OF THE HAWEA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1856, 13 June 1888, Page 3

WRECK OF THE HAWEA.

[per prbss association.] New Plymouth, Job© 12 The steamer still remains In an upright position, and In comparatively oalm wator, although It is blowing a heavy gale onlsideShe is not bumplog, and at low water her hnll if as eight or nine feet out of wator. Apparently aha haa sustained no more damage. It la just possible, after all, that ■he may bo plugged up and the wa'er pumped ont of her, bat It Is a more oonjeotnre. The opinion of the harbormaster ii that her bottom waa oompotoly etove Id. Mr Stevens, oue of the passengers, S tys : — " I was conversing with Captain ( Hansby last night for upwarda of two hours, daring whioh time bo frequently •xpresied a wish to get alongside the wharf ot night, and wonld have done so had there been lights at the end of the breakwater. la the morning I got op ! abpat six o'clock and had breakfast and was m readiness to leave the steamer immediately she w»b moored, as I was anxious to catah the through train. I was on deck when the steamer struck. It was a shock as If she had etrnck a rock, and 15 minutes afterwards the hold was full of water. The captain was cool and collected and acted manfully throughout. Dunedin, Jane 12. The following are the lnanranoeH on the Hawea'g Hull • — ln colonial offices — National £500, Sooth British £500, Standard £250, United £250, Victoria £750, New Zealand £260, Colonial £250, North Queensland £260 ; m Home offices £2000. The Company underwrites for £8000; total, £13,000. Wellington, Jane 13. TheHawea shows no signs of having moved. She is upright and has not bumped m the least. Opinions are that ■he oan be eailly floated as she is m no way strained. An enquiry is going oc. Captain Hanaby says he anchored off the breakwater about eleven on Monday night The weather was squally with a chopping ■ea. At 5.30 on Tuesday morning he prepared to go Into the harbor and hove fn about fifteen fathoms of cable* The G»lrlooh was close by, and just before entering he stopped the vessel nnd reversed her engines to let the Galrioch go Is fir it. He then came m with the lead- 1 Ing lights s little open to the west When be saw the breakers on the bank off the end of the breakwater he starboarded the helm, and when abreast the bank put the helm hard to port to haul up to the ' wharf, and put the engines at half speed. He saw she was not answering her helm on account of the fresh breeze on her broadside, and he stopped the engines and let go the starboard anchor and went ahead slow with the helm hard a port, thinking the anchor would check her bow to the windward. She came round a couple of points when be felt the vessel touch on her keel lightly aft, ■ The en~ qairy is going on. Later. Captain Hansby's evidence was continued. He went at half speed as he thought he touched the bank Imrne diately after he felt her strike heavily a second time and saw her wayhead had been stopped. Sounded wells and found she was not making water. About 830 the cable of the starboard anchor parted and the vessel drifted to where she now is, and got aground at high water, Her forehold filled with water. He got the passengers and crew ashore, The inqniry Btill continues. The officers and crow will be paid off here, and moßt of them will leave for the South m the Wanaka on Saturday.