Scow Huanui Refloated

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 33, 9 February 1937, Page 6

Scow Huanui Refloated

AFTER FORTNIGHT ON FOXTON BEACH After being stranded for over a fortnight on the south spit at Manawatu Heads, the scow Huanui was successfully refloated yesterday and towed by the pilot hoat into the sheltered waters of the Manawatu river where, it is understood, she will be overhauled. During the time the scow was on the beach she was in a fairly exposed position but, being over the bar, she wste beyond reach of the heavy seas which might have pounded her to pieces. .Several efforts were mado to get her back into deep water but it was not until the high tides of the week-end that the skipper and the crew were able to achieve their objective. There were many people who thought the scow would never be refloated but those directly concerned never slackened their efforts to get their ship away from the beach. The tides last week were particularly low and it was not until the early hours of Sunday that much headway was made in the operation of warping the scow away from the sand. The tide on Sunday evening was another good one and before the waters had receded much the Huanui had been dragged off a considerable distance despite the strong breeze and fairly “ lumpy ” sea. By the time the pilot boat had nosed her way back to her moorings everything seemed ready for a successful effort at refloating on the morning tide. The crew must have been “on the job” bright and early for by 7 o’clock yesterday morning tho scow, to the residents of the beach colony, appeared to be nearer her anchors than ac any time during the previous week. Before the tide had reached the full flood it was seen that the scow was lifting to the waves and by 8.15 a.m. she was well clear and in deep water. There was a fairly useful surf and the Huanui was riding the waves. At 8.45 a.m. the jib boom was run up to bring her round towards the river channel and at 8.55 o’clock the starboard anchor was up. Tho scow, with the crew hauling on tho port anchor, was warped further off shore and tho anchor lee go at 9 a.m. The mainsail was then set and, with the pilot boat assisting to keep her on the true course, ten minutes’ favourable weather appeared to be all that was required to get the scow through the channel and into the river. Just as fate would have it, however, the wind increased in force and there was a very heavy rainstorm and spectators soon realised that the Huanui was making no progress, this indicating that she was back on the sand and that she would not be refloated that morning. Bhe was in a good position, however, and on the evening tide she was worked clear and taken up the river. The Huanui went ashore on Saturday, January 23, after safely negotiating the bar. She was en route from Greymouth to Foxton with 120 tons of coal for Palmerston North. Particularly boisterous weather was experienced during the trip and a heavy sea was running and a westerly gale blowing when she arrived off Manawatu Heads and attempted to make the port.