DRAGGING IN THE GALE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10603, 31 May 1920, Page 2

DRAGGING IN THE GALE

BARQUENTINE ALEXA SEEKS AID. Through dragging hor anchors in the gale some anxiety was felt yesterday for the safety of the little steel barquentine Aloxa, which was anchored in Wellington harbour awaiting favourable weather to sail for Greymouth to complete her cargo, of timber for Sydney. ' During Saturday night the Alexa ’• dragged anchors, and yesterday morning she signalled for assistance as the south-westerly gale was steadily driving her towards Petonc beach. The tug Pelican went out and endeavoured to take the Aloxa in tow. Captain W. Whitten, of the barquentine, slipped . the cable of one of his onchoin, and then endeavoured to pick up the other anchor. It was found, however, that the second anchor had fouled the cable of the first. After spending some hours with the Alexa. the Pelican returned to her berth lat© yesterday atfemoon. The harbourmaster Captain J. Dawson, on the arrival of the Government steamer Tutanekai at 4.40 p.m. yesterday from Nelson, got Captain O. Post, of that vessel, to take him off to the Alexa to ascertain if anything could he done for her! When tho Tutanekai arrived in tho vicinity of the barquentine, it was found that tho little vessel was holding on securely and had apparently ceased to drift to leeward. The Aloxa was then about a quarter of a mile off tho Petone beach, and in a lino with the Horokoro buoy. It was deemed advisable to let the Alexa remain where she was, as an attempt to < shift her might have got her into difficulties. The Tutanekai then returned to the Taranaki street wharf. The Alexa is a vessel of 280 tons, owned by the Sydney Chinese shipping firm. On Chong and Co.