WRECK OF 45 YEARS AGO

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20024, 24 August 1939, Page 15

WRECK OF 45 YEARS AGO

GISBORNE HARBOR CUTTER

ASHORE NEAR WAIROA

SURVIVOR REVISITS TOWN

v{Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day

An interesting visitor ito YVairoa last week Mr. E. Higham, Gisborne, whose presence in town recalled I’ne wreck of the Gisborne cutter Dart on the beach near Wairoa neatly 45 years ago. At the time. Mr. Higham was a lad oi oniy li years.

When recounting his experience, Mr Higham stated thak the Bluffbuilt cucter, formerly used by the Gisborne Harbour Board as a diver’s boat, was purchased and fitted out for an adventurous trip to the South Island, where it was intended to engage in fishing operations at Lyt--tiw'Jil.

The vessel, which was certainly not more than 15 tons burthen, was fitted out and provisioned' on a scale to match the size of the craf.t. There were not many luxuries stowed aboard lor the use of the passen--oei'a. The Passengers The passengers comprised Mr. and Mrs. P. Morris arid daughter, and two sons. There was also an island naif-caste, “Black” Harris, and three boys, also a Chinese .cook, Loo Sing, in all a party of 10, including the narrator.

All went well fintil the craft rounded Portland .Island and. had gone some way to the south-west, when she was struck by a heavy south-easterly gale. Being unable to oeat back to Walkokopu, she' was driven shoreward on to the coast ~bouc opposite Tuhara.

41 r- • i The vessel was tossed on to the beach,' and owing to her light draught, she was driven well up. all managed to get ashore.

Tent Riggecl Up

The shipwrecked people, vvho lost all they had, managed to rig up a tent with one of the boat’s sails, and later the Maoris (befriended them and took the par.ty by canoes across the swamp through the raupo to Tuhara, where the late Mr. and Mrs. Bob Porter gave them hospitality until they were able to make their way in a dray to Wairoa over steep hills. In Wairoa (they again met friends, and the Morris family stayed for a year

The vessel later broke up, and even her name does not appear in “White Wings” or any other annals of the sea.