STEAMER “BREEZE”

Hokitika Guardian, 19 December 1931, Page 5

STEAMER “BREEZE”

DETAILS OF STRANDING. ARRIVAL AT LYTTELTON (By Telegraph—Per Press Association<■) CHRISTCH UHCH, Dec. 18. The “B recze” was remarkably fortunate to get into Port Robinson at all. It wa's astonishing for her to get into the position where she grounded. She had to make a complete right angle turn from her course, and the ship and her company were very fortunate to negotiate the comparatively narrow passage between reefs which fringe the Bay, and then ground on iue only sa.e stretch of the Begch in the whole Buy. It was fortunate that there was a rising tide, and, the vessel was floated off without hedging or any similar operation. .

Itesdeuts report that before seven a.m.,- the sounding of a foghorn was heard, apparently being blown by the vessel coming from Wellington and crossing Gore Bay. Twenty minutes later an alarm was raised in a small settlement at the top of the 300-foot cliff's which surrounded the Iky, The crashing of the vessel’s bow on the gravel of the beach and on the boulders of the Sea bottom, was clearly beard.

Men scrambled clown the cliff face, and there saw the steamer sixty yards out, aground. The men of the crew were reconnoitring the position',in a dinghy. They asked the people ou tho shore to communicate with the Canterbury Steamship Company, asking for urgent help. This was done, but the vessel got off and disappeared in the fog without further advice whether assistance was needed.

With her pumps working at full pressure, the “Breeze” made good time to Lyttelton. The. hull is extensively damaged along the port bilge. She ’ will be docked for repairs. The damage to the “Storm” is almost similar. Shipping.