STEAMER ASHORE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1694, 10 March 1913, Page 6

STEAMER ASHORE.

AND OFF AGAIN. ACCIDENT TO THE WAIMEA. Whilst on the voyage from Wanganui to Wellington the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company's steamer Waimea, 452 tons, Captain Stevens, went ashore in Ohariu Bay at 1 a.m. on Saturday. The weather was very thick at the time, so thick, indeed, that other vessels arriving at Wellington from Cook Strait Toported that -it was impossible to see a quarter of a mile ahead of them.

The Waimea left Wanganui at 00 p.m. 011 Friday. At that time all was clear, and the weather tine. Soon, however, a thick, dark fog descended with drizzling rain. The Waimea stood on her course, which was set to clcar Cape Terawhiti well. In a seventy-mile run fne Waimea was taken four and a half miles out of her course by the set of the tide in Cook Strait, and at 4 o'clock the next morning she was found to bo crunching on the mussels on the rocks in Ohariu Bay. Both engines were set going full speed astern, but although only the fore part of the vessel was ashore slio could not be shifted. The tide was making all the time, and the sea being calm, a kedgeanchor was got out. After a few hours' work the Waimea came off the rocks with ,a run, and made full steain for Wellington.

The Union Company's tug Terawhiti was made ready, but lier services were not required. The Waimea berthed at the Customhouse breastwork at about 11 a.m., looking none the worse for her experiences.

On investigation it was found that there were some slight dents on the starboard side ot the hull, and also that one or two rivets had,been loosened up. The Waimsa was found to be making little, if any, water, and proceeded on her way to Picton ' and Nelson on Saturday afternoon.

The vessel was practically empty when she went' ashore, and this 110 doubt oxplains the reason of there being 110 damage done worth mentioning. The Collector of Customs at Wellington 'held, a preliminary inquiry into the stranding of the vessel. The papers have been ibrwarded to the Marine Department for consideration.