THE STRANDED KAURI

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2185, 25 June 1914, Page 5

THE STRANDED KAURI

VESSEL HARD & FAST

BEACHED TO PREVENT HER FOUNDERING {By Teleeraph.—Press Association.! .Westport, June 24. Captain Ruxton auu ottier members of tho crow of the steamer .kauri, which is stranded on tho Aorth Beach, camo ashoro at low tide. Tho vessel is hard and fast on a level, Bandy bottom. IJapcam iluxton reports that a westerly sot put the steamer on the wall. Tho water made in iNos. 1 and 2 holds, and in the engine-room. She was rapidly filling and in danger of sinking, and to savo liio ho beaclied her. Very little water was taken dver; lho side. Tho vessel settled in the sand and lay steadily. Tho weather at tiie time of tho mishap was a fresh westerly breeze, with rain, and there was a moderate swell on tho bar.

As no survey of the Kauri has yot libcii made, the captain and chief engineer can givo no information as to tjjo damage to tho steamer. All hands landed safely through the surf at 4 o'cJock this morning. The vessel lies bow on to the sea. Westport, 8.30 p.m. Tho position of the Kauri is unalfered. The officers and crow got their personal effects ashoro this afternoon. Captain Ruxton stated that his vessel ivhnn entering tht port was drawing 7ft. fonvard and 12ft. 6in. aft, with tho harbour light showing 14ft. After striking the eastern wall the vessel began to fill rapidly, going down to 17ft., and his only cafe course to prevent tho vessel foundering with tho risk of the lives of all aboard was to beach hdr, and this was successfully done. If tho damage is not boy,ond repair it is anticipated that tho vessel will be refloated. Tho cargo in the hold, which is not «o far affected by tho water, is probably undamaged, but an examination has not yet been made to prove definitely if this is so. S.S. TERAWHITI TO THE RESCUE. AH day yesterday i the Union Company's powerful ealvngo tug Terawhiti was being made, ready to proceed to ■\yestnort to take part in salvage operations in connection with the Kauri. During tho morning the Terawhiti was taken round to the Patent .Slip Wharf in Evans Bay. Sevoral lengths of heavy wire cable, heavy anchors and other necessary gear were shipped. Much of the material was used in floating tho Indrabarah. Captain Stott, Marine Superintendent for tho Union Company at Wellington, and Mr. Birkett, salvage expert, were passengers by the Terawhiti, which left the wharf at 9.50 p.m. On account of the heavy southerly gale at the Heids, however, she was compelled to anchor in Worser Bay at 10.30 p.m. An attempt was to havo been niade to get out early this morning. The Terawhiti should arrive at tho scene of tho stiahded Kauri about 19 or 20 hours after leaving Wellington. Captain Colin M'Donald, Marine Superintendent for the Union Company, left Dunedin for Westport yesterday morning. /

The local oflico of the Union Company were advised last evening that the weather on the West Coast was' unfavourable It was reported that there, was a heavy sea running on the /Westport Bar. ■