STEAMER AGROUND.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19161, 18 November 1927, Page 8

STEAMER AGROUND.

MISHAP AT MANUKAU. [THE PRESS Special Service.] AUCKLAND, November 17. Out of control as a result of her steering gear breaking, the steamer Ngapuhi ran on to a mudbank off Big Muddy Creek, Manukau Harbour, this morning. The vessel was steaming at full speed at the time with the result that she went well on to the bank. The passengers, numbering 20, and a quantity of mail matter were brought to Onelmnga during the morning by the launch Awhitu. . Under ordinary ciscumstauces the Ngapuhi would have lel\ New Plymouth on Tuesday, but she was delayed there bv rain and did not sail until last evening. She crossed the Manukau Bar at.0.00 a.m. to-day, but when opposite Big Muddy Creek, near CornwaUis, her steering gear carried away and she ran hard on to a mudbank before speed could be reduced. ■ • As the tide was falling the vessel could not be got off and arrangements were at once made to dispatch a launch from Onehunga. Besides general cargo the Ngapuhi has on board eleven racehorses. A unit of the Northern Company's fleet, the Ngapuhi (703 tons) has been relieving the Rarawa in the New Plymouth service for some, weeks. Captain W. Bark, who has been in this service for many years, is master of the vesesl, having taken command when the Rarawe came round to Auckland for overhaul and survey. He has a wide reputation for seamanship and knowledge of the intricacies of the .Manukau Harbour and its bar. The Manukau is notoriously difficult to navigate on account of numerous shoals and mudbanks which frequently change.their positions and launches engaged in the harbour services often spend an ■ hour or so aground waiting for the tide to rise. Kfforts to refloat the Ngapuhi were made this afternoon, and about four o'clock, an hour before full tide, she was moved into deep water under her own power. No damage was caused to the vessel.