WRECKS AT TIMARU AND OAMARU.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 284, 10 May 1875, Page 2

WRECKS AT TIMARU AND OAMARU.

The severe easterly weather which prevailed on Saturday and Sunday has been most disastrous to the shipping in the open roadsteads at Timaru and Oamaru, The port of Timaru at this season of the year is generally more crowded than at any other period, no less than ten vessels being at anchor there on Saturday morning. At an early hour on that day the signal was hoisted to put to sea on account of the dangerous state of the roadstead, and eight of the vessels succeeded in getting safely away, but two, the Gyrene barque, and Princess Alice brig, were unable from their size to make their escape, and had therefore to depend on their cables alone for safety. They managed to hold on all right through Saturday and up to Sunday morning, but at about 6.30 a.m. the Princess Alice parted her cables, and went on the reef opposite the town. Thants, however, to the exertions of those on shore, those on board wore landed in safety. The vessel has been declared a total wreck. Shortly afterwards the Gyrene parted one chain, and after remaining in a dangerous position for a short time, parted the second cable, and went ashore on the reef near the same place where the wreck of the Princess Alice lay. In this case also no lives were lost. She shortly afterwards became a total wreck. Both those vessels were owned here by Messrs Richard Wood and C. W. Turner. We are glad to learn that both the vessels and their cargoes were insured: Colonial companies will lose about £7OOO, and there are also insurances 1 1 London Lloyds’ for £SOOO more, The hull of the Cyreue was

insured in the New Zealand Insurance Company for £4500, and that of the Princess Alice for £2OOO ; but Mr D. Craig informs us that £4500 of this sum has been re-insured in other offices. The Cyrene had still on board a large portion of her cargo, which consisted of railway sleepers from San Francisco, which was with the freight insured in London. The Princess Alice was partially loaded with wheat by Messrs Cunningham and Co, which was insured in the South British. Messrs D. Craig, of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Captain Dunford, aud C. W. Turner will proceed this morning to Timaru, in order to take steps to save if possible a portion of the wreck,

At Oamaru all the vessels were sent to sea at four a.m. on Saturday morning, when the Blderslie fouled the Young Dick and stranded. The Loung Dick then anchored in a dangerous position near the breakwater. Later in the day the Blderslie bilged and canted deck to sea on the rocks midway between the landing place and the breakwater, and was expected to become a total wreck. The Young Dick, however, got out clear. The Blderslie, we hear, was insured in the South British, but we could not ascertain the amount.