WRECK OF THE BRIGANTINE HERCULES.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1778, 17 April 1874, Page 2

WRECK OF THE BRIGANTINE HERCULES.

[AUCKLAND STAR.] " The brigantinc Herculs, which left \r\tapu >awmills on the I lth March, bound for Sydney, with a full enrgo of sawn timber, went ashore at Kaipara Heads on the 23r<l. The vessel had' gone down to the usual ; anchorage inside the Heads, to wait for a favorable opportunity to cross the bar. she several days, « ben the captain determined to make an effort to get out. He weighed anchor, and set sail in company '.with another vessel. The wind, however, failed, arid the bri^antine had to be brought to an anchorage in the channel to wait for the return tide, to cany her back within the Harbor. ' When the tide was set in the anchor ■was again weighed and sail set; but the canvas was taken aback, and notwithstanding that two anchors were let go, the vessel drifted ashore on the South Head in a few minutes. She now lies up on the beach with l3ft of water in her hold, and there is no prospect of getting her off. If the weather continues^fine,. however, -the : cargo will be saved, and the rigging stripped. The Government steamer Luna entered the harbor ■ theJfollowing morning oh her way to the Northern Wairoa river, and proffered assist-; tance to the captain of the Hercules ; but it-was though that Ho effective assistance could be rendered the -vessel in her present! condition. The pilot of the harbor was in Auckland when the accident occurred. The Hercules is .hum ed for L 750 in the Sydney office of tha"New Zealand Company, and her cargo for LIOOO in the Auckland office of the ' same company.