OPUA WRECKED NEAR-CAPE PALLISER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3546, 5 October 1926, Page 3

OPUA WRECKED NEAR-CAPE PALLISER.

CREW GET SAFELY ASHORE. While on her way to Wellington the Anchor Company’s cargo steamer Opua, 575 tons, which left Gisborne at 11 p.m. on Thursday, stranded at 3.10 on Saturday morning at Tora, 12 miles north-east of Palliser Bay during showery weather and fog. It is feared that the vessel will become a total wreck. The crew were got safely ashore during Saturday morning, and received hospitality at the homestead of Mr Eric Riddiford’s station. At 3 p.m,, shortly after the tugs Terawhitifand Toia arrived on the scene Captain 11. Fowler abandoned the ship. The Opua was formerly the Ramornie, trading in Australia. In 1920 she was purchased by the Opua Shipping Co. Ltd., and was engaged in the Wellington-West Coast trade until February of last year, when she was taken over by the Anchor Shipping Co. The Opua is a steel twin-screw steamer, and has a gross tonnage of 575. She was built and engined by A. and .1. Inglis, Glasgow, in 1902 and her principal dimensions are: Length 184.2 ft., breadth 28.1 ft., depth O.fift. The Opua is insured for £B,OOO in the South British office. Air A. Walker, surveyor for the Marine Underwriters’ Association, expects to arrive at the scene of the wreck this morning, aiid when his report comes to hand, the question of the vessel being abandoned to the Underwriters will be decided.

The preliminary marine inquiry into the mishap was opened yesterday.