STRANDED KAHIKA

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1929, Page 5

STRANDED KAHIKA

FURTHER. PARTICULARS. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) GISBORNE; October 24: The course was changed in an.endeavour to use the gale’s Velocity to assist- the vessel; but ’ this manoeuvre also failed; the Kahika having been driven back to the point at which there was insufficient space' for handling the vessel easily. Within a few minutes auer the change of course it became evident that the gale was going to beat the Kahika’s engines, and as the shore drew nearer the crew made preparations for leaving. The stem of the' Kahika' touched first in about 8 feet of. water, and a few moments alter, the ship began to swing round broadside to the wind. This made the evacuation of the crew easy, tne hull .of the Kahika breaking the force of the seas. The boats made good passage through the surf, a distance of 100 yards. Later, as the tide rose the vessel moved a little and gradually worked her way down the beach.

POSITION OF VESSEL. GISBORNE. Oct. 24. Members of the Kahika’s crew state they owe a good deal to the seamanship of Capt. Gardiner, whose handling of tile vessel under trying circumstances -is : described with enthusiasm. In view of the fact that an inquiry will be made,, the. o&cers are reticent and refuse to discuss the occurrence. Arrangements for refloating are not to be taken in hand until the weather moderates. It is lively the . tug Terawhjti will hex. dispatched, frjjnft Wellington to undertake salvage.. The position of the Kahika appears favourable for a comparatively easy refloating. The vessel'lays head on to the beach and though well up on the sand, the "opinion of shipping men is that it can be kedged off on flood tides. The Kahika had about 200 tons of cargo aboard, and would have cleared the roadstead yesterday, but for the fact that Show Day intervened with a general holiday on the, waterfront. Portion of the ship’s cargo was loaded at Napier, for South Island ports, .the balance: being general rberchandsie and produce shipped from South Island ports for Gisborne. If the forward . part of the Kahika proves to be high and dry at low tide, the cargo for this port will oe discharged into vehicles on the beach. < S’ 1

TUG TERAWHITI LEAVES FOR ;/ -v THE SCENE. - , ■ WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. Soon after the news -of the stranding of the cargo ( steamer ' “Kahika” was received in Wellington this morning, preparations w.ere made to dispatch the Union Company! s tug “'ieba-' whiti” to GisbotnCp where she will attempt to pull the RAiVika off the beach. Full supplies of foodstuffs were taken aboard, aud r -a quantity of gear, including a big mushroom- anchor, which will be necessary for the salvage< work: The arrangements .‘were completed early this afternoon; and the Terawhiti left the-wharf at 2.20 p.m. If the Terawhiti, which is in command of Captain P. E: Ryan, makes good progress" against "...the ..strong southerly blowing, ; she .should arrive at Gisborne on Saturday morning. VESSEL’S POSITION UNCHANGED. GISBORNE, Oct, 24. The Un'on Coy’s steamer Kahika is still firmly embedded, on the Wakanae Beach. This evening she had made no noticeable movement since she first went ashore. - *

The weather did not improve during the day. Heavy rain has been falling and a strong southerly wind was bringing up a rough sea. Nothing has been clone towards, getting the vessel off, as. the. operations are delayed pending, the arrival of the tug Terawhiti which left Wellington for Gisborne at 2.20 p.m. ; to-day. When the tide ran, out-to-day. it was seen that the Kahika had lost two propellor blades.