SHIPPING MISHAP ON EAST COAST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2683, 15 January 1924, Page 2

SHIPPING MISHAP ON EAST COAST.

POUT ELLIOT AGROUND NEAR EAST CAPE.

A message from Gisborne on Sunday announced that a serious shipping mishap had occurred near East Cape about midnight on Saturday when, in thick weather, the Commonwealth and Dominion Line vessel, Port Elliot, bound from Auckland to Wellington, was stranded near Horoera Point, half-way between Te Araroa and East- Cape and between 80 and 8b miles north of Gisborne.

A later message from Te Araroa states that conditions are favourable for the salvage of cargo, the mist having cleared. The reports from Te Araroa go to show that t lie Port Elliot's position is regarded as hopeless. An. unconfirmed report states that there is a big hole beneath the engine-room. A party of about twelve remains aboard, the rest of the crew having been safely landed. Gisborne, Last. Night. News from Te Araroa to-night states that the Port Elliot is still fast on the papa reef. Local opinion differs as to whether the vessel will become a total wreck. Numerous attempts have been made to gel ropes ashore to prevent the \essel from slipping off, but so far they have been futile. Salvaging operations will probably commence to-morrow. The Pori Victor left for Wellington this morning with the Port Elliot's crew aboard. The Port Elliot has been an illfated inter, having been ashore on the liangitikei beach, in May 10th, 1913, at that time plying under the name of the Indrabarah. On returning to England, after being reconditioned, this vessel stranded in the Suez Canal, and later grounded at the mouth of the Thames, and now she is reported piled up on the rocky and forbidding coast about the East Capo.