STEAMER AGROUND.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1925, Page 3

STEAMER AGROUND.

[nv TEi.Enn.vni —rra press association.] WANGANUI, May 25. While the oversea steamer Cyrena was entering the river early on Sunday morning she grounded on a shoal which formed as the result of the Hood bringing down large (|iinnlities of silt. The vessel came off in the evening under her own ,steam, hut was caught by a strong current ami grounded again six hundred yards north, ol the moles. It was reported at mid-night that she was leaking in all holds. The steamer Cyrena, laden with benzine which grounded yesterday morning on a sand shoal, probably formed by the Hood in the river and the heavy seas of the past lew days, shifted during the night and now is grounded about a hundred yards north of the north mole. As the vessel is reported to be leaking in all holds, the tug Terawhiti was engaged and should he here this afternoon. It is anticipated the work of lightering the Cyrena will proceed with little difficulty, in view of the fact that early this morning the sea had moderated appreciably, while the wind was correspondingly easier. When entering the roadstead, the Cyrena was drawing seventeen feet. The vessel is in charge of Captain Patterson and carries it crew of between forty and fifty, whereof about fifteen are Europeans and the remainder Chinese. The New Zealand Express Co are the agents for the ship which has a cargo of motor spirit and kerosene for southern ports, including eight thousand eases to he discharged at Wanganui. The Cyrena is owned by the AngloSaxon Petroleum Coy, and is 2,138 tons gross. She was built in 111D1 tit West Hartlepool.

AYELLIXGTOX, May 25. The* Cvrena was specially lmilt for the carirage of oil in 19111 mid is 2138 tons gross. She loaded at Singapore and discharged part of her cargo at Auckland, which place she left on Wednesday for Wanganui and had eight thousand cases to put out there and the remainder was for Lyttelton, Dunedin and the Bluff. HOPES OE REFLOATING. WAXGANUI. .May 25. The steamer Cvrena is lying on tho moles fairly close into the beach, this morning the lighter Mona went out to lay a stern anchor. Salvage on a big-.-(•i- scale will be attempted when tho J erawhiti arrives. The sea. at present is moderate and there is a hopedul feeling of refloating the steamer, hut everything depends upon the weather.