The s.s. Rothesay.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 327, 23 August 1907, Page 2

The s.s. Rothesay.

knocked about on the KAWHIA BAB. Last Wednesday morning the little steamer Rothesay went from Kawhia to Mirokopi, bavin? as a cargo 11 large quantity of stores and the remainder of the material for the erection of the bridge oyer the Marokopa Riyer. The bar there was rather rough, but an entrance was made without a drop of water being shipped. The steamer came out on Friday morning when a good saa was rnnuing, bat this did uot atop the little craft. There was a heavy roll all along the coast, which increased as Albatross Point was reached. It was Ci .inteution to go on to Aotea aud pick up a load of flax from Mr C. Williams’ mill, bat when he saw ibe way the sea was making ha deemed i.t prudent to run into Kawbia. The bar was very heavy and breaking right acroes. A couple uf large brtakeis were successfully negotiated, when one eea, fully 30ft high came along. It broke right over the vessel, and it i 4 indeed fortunate (bat it was not followed by another such wave or tbe doom of the Rothesay would have been sealed- When be saw it coming Sea man Turnbull went to the saloon to close the door, bat that was smashed

t > pieces and the water trended th»« compartment. Turnbull was hurled against a bunk with great violoMa*, and knocked about a good deal. “Thwater was all over the place,” he end, aud I thought that she vms under and 'hat we were going down. 1 listened and was very pleased to hoar the engine si ill going, as I knew then that we were all right.” fno caot-in was at tbo and the wave came right over him, 6 ling his sea boots and washing a *ay his hat —indeed it is marvellous how be escaped being washed overboard. Engineer Pressley did not have a very pleasant time in the engi ie room either, as that also was flooded, and to make matters worse both of the guaga glasses were broken. He did good work in sticking to the engine'*, up to his waste in water and blinded with the escaping sfc im. The pump bad to be brought into use and kept going until the heads were reached. On arrival at the wharf both men and boat presented a battered appearance. The after part of the Rothesay ia .badly damaged, but Mr J. C. Berg is now engaged effecting repai. *8, so that the craft c-»n go to Aotea as soon as the weather permits.