WAIROA.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 8, Issue 409, 6 September 1866, Page 2

WAIROA.

{[feoha coeeespondest.] Ist September, 1866. Os Saturday last, the schooner Lady Bird, Bax* ter, took the bar at 4 p.m. When almost inside the river, there being no wind, the drawback of the surf drew the vessel back for some distance, and as all command over the vessel was lost, she was thrown upon the beach by the succeeding break. All hands set to work to discharge cargo shortly after the accident; but as the vessel soon began to break up, most of the goods were more or less damaged. At 4 a.m. on Sunday there was a general breaking up from stem to stern, and before mid-day very little was to be seen of the unfortunate vessel. Captain Baxter says that if there had only been a small boat or canoe at to have towed the vessel, it would have prevented the accident. I think that the Government are greatly to blame. If the pilot had been there with his boat, the vessel would have been saved. Of course the pilot boat is at present undergoing repairs, but I think that another ought to have been got to take its place. Besides there is not any signal station or anything else to guide any vessel that may be obliged to take the bar without the pilot. The captain of a vessel taking tbe bar sees the pilot stuck upon tbe bluff, waving his hand, and I am sure it is quite impossible for any one to understand what to do. Under such circumstances I think there is great room for improvement. I have been down to the bluff to-day. The Dolphin and Hero are both outside, but there is too much sea on for them to enter the river. The entrance is very narrow, but deep. There is only a small junk of copper left to mark the place where the Lady Bird was wrecked. Business is fearfully dull, but I think we may look forward to some improvement as the spring advances.