An Exciting Incident.

Hastings Standard, Issue 251, 19 February 1897, Page 4

An Exciting Incident.

The officers of one of the Union Company's steamers had a queer experience the other night when travelling between Lyttelton and Wellington. The night was thick and dirty from the south-east, and at midnight when the oflicers were changing watches they reckoned they were close up to the Ivaikoura Peninsula. They had shaped a course well off the land, but owing to the thickness of the' night were keeping a sharp look out, and at the relieving hour captain, first and second oflicers were on the bridge together. Someone remarked what a fearful night it would be to get piled up on the beach, when suddenly a light appeared oil the starboard bow, then another, and then oh, ye gods ! looming up through the mist and inky blackness of the night about thirty lights. " My God," someone said, " we are down on the top of the Peninsula." The telephone to the engine room promptly rang " stand by," and the vessel's head was turned round, whilst the officers feared every moment to feel her strike, they appeared to be, so close to shore. Congratulating themselves on what seemed a terribly narrow escape from a serious marine disaster, the lights of "the town" were brought to bear right astern, but imagine their astonishment when after five minutes going full speed ahead the adjective town seemed to get closer. They'did not know what to make of it, for closer the lights came still, when one of them yelied " Well I'm blessed (he didn't say blessed) if that isn't the squadron shaping down for Akaroa." And sure enough, it was the Orlando, Wallaroo, and a couple of others !