The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 13, 1901. THE MISHAP TO THE URUROA.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 185, 13 August 1901, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, AUGUST 13, 1901. THE MISHAP TO THE URUROA.

The apparently unexplainable delay that has taken place in rendering assistance to the three-masted scow Ururoa, should suggest to the Harbor Board the necessity for some enquiry as to whether the best and most prompt steps have been taken to refloat the vessel. The scow went ashore at four o’clock on Sunday morning, and there were eleven hours from that time and

the next high tide in which to take steps to render the required assistance which, if promptly givon, would no doubt have been effective. That opportunity was lost, and the next tide also was allowed to pass without anything being done. On the following high tide, that is, yesterday afternoon, inadequate measures appear to have been taken. So far as the matter concerns the the ship owners and insurance companies we have little to say, as they can well be left to look after their own interests. But we have the credit of the port to consider, and we think that it has been unnecessarily disparaged by .converting what might

have been a slight mishap into a serious risk, and this appears to have been chiefly owing to the want of a little energy being displayed by those who should study the best interests of the port. Very fortunately the weather has kept fine, and condoned the neglect, but at this season it cannot be counted upon for long, and there is no telling the moment when the vessel | may be placed it serious peril. Yes-

-terday afternoon a single cable was ! run out, anil the first serious strain ! on it caused it to part. Those j carrying on the operations had j no second string to their bow, j there was no second line, and no j steamer handy to render them assist- j ante, and it soon became evident to j the most superficial observer that they \ had lost the tide aud all chance of floating the vessel for another twelve hours. Those looking on could see the vessel being carried yard by yard further aground, and they” were powerless to assist. A port such as Gisborne for its own credit should have the appliances necessary to cope with any such emergency as has befallen the Ururoa, and wo hope the Harbor Board will take the matter into their most serious consideration.