FIFTY YEARS AGO

Hokitika Guardian, 28 August 1929, Page 3

FIFTY YEARS AGO

(Lyttelton Times, August, 1879.) Wreck of Schooner Garibaldi.—Tlip following is the result of the inquiry into the wreck of tlje schooner Garir baldi at Hokitika, as reported in the “West Coast Times” of August 13. “That when rounding the end of the north spit pf thei Hokitika River, tlig master, of the Garibaldi hugged it too closely apd his vessel grounded there. From that point she became unmanageable and was. cast , pip by the sea on to the beach. If appeared that within a few days of the accident the shoa) had Ibeen marked by a beacon rp-1 and white flag, but since the north channel of the river has become unmanageable it has been discontinued. I am therefore of' opinion that the accident is to a certain extent attributable to this , fact, for had the shoal been- marked by a white flag the accident might have been avoided. As it. is, the master qf the Garibaldi is nfit to blame at all for not keeping his vessel in the proper chan,nel; the fact” of the shoal not being marked by. a white flag is'l sufficient excuse, as lie might naturally have concluded that by not seeing the beacon, there was sufficient wat-°r for the Garjbaldi., Under the circumstances I do not consider it necessary to proceed any further in . the ‘matter.” The Garibaldi was owned by Messrs Cameron Bits., 'of Lyttelton, and insured for £650. She was sold with her cargo of timber (insured fop £150) for £l6. . • N '