SHIPPING ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1502, 10 July 1905, Page 2

SHIPPING ACCIDENT.

THE LIGHTER TAWERA ASHORE. ' g .V m*i A serious shipping accident occurred in the Bay last evening, resulting m the lighter Tawera getting ashore on the Waikanae beach, nearly opposite Lowe St Early in the afternoon the lighter Titi had been left anchored in the Bay by the Karoro, and the Tawera was proceeding to pick her up to bring her back to the wharf, os the Union steamer had gone over to Young Hick’s Head for shelter in working cargo, it not being intended to tranship to the Titi until the morning. There was a nasty sea running at the time, a stiff south-westerly gale prevailing. While entering the river the heavy swell carried the Tawera over towards the groyne, and the vessel struck the sand bar and was brought! almost to a staadstill. The * orce of the seas on the Titi made the cable taut, and the Btrain swung the Tawera completely round. The two vessels drifted together and were driven against the training wall, the Tawera sustaining the full force of tho impact, and acting as a buffer for the smaller craft. For several minutes the position was an extremely critical one for the two vessels,, both of which wore very heavily laden with cargo. Twice the heavy seas, swept right over the Tawera, and the rending of timbers as the vessel was pressed against the groyne sounded ominous, whilst a number of planks from the training wall was thrown into the sea, and drifted up on the Waikanae beach. The Titi drifted around the end of the training wall, and a line thrown on to the groyne was secured by Mr a. Bradford, who was fortunately on the spot, and a hawser was soon run oat and the lighter safely secured under the lee of the groyne. The Tawera was also able to get out of her perilous position, and was run on to the Waikanae beaoh, near the end of Lowe street. The damage to the vessel will not bo ascertained until the I vessel has been refloated, which it is hoped i will be accomplished this morning. The I Titi was subsequently brought to a safe anchorage, close to where she had been moored, and the men aboard were taken ott in a surf boat by Captain Kennedy, returning to the boat later to be ready to render any assistance first thing this morning. At | twelve o’clock the position of the Tawera was well np on the beach, her bows pointing in a north-easterly direction. It is probable that the aceident was caused through the Tawera being unable to work her engines when getting into eha.low water. . , When the news of the accident was heard in town a large number gathered on the Waikanae beach, and remained throughout tho evening. Amongst the cargo aboard the Titi is a quantity of the scenery belonging to - the Nellie Stewart Company, which will be shipped nrßt thing this morning.