ACCIDENT TO THE WAKATU.

Patea Mail, 13 October 1882, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO THE WAKATU.

Shortly before tea o’clock this morning it became rumoured in town that an accident of a serious nature had befallen the s.s. Wnkatu in entering port. Considerable excitement was manifested, and a large number of people made their way down to the wharf where the vessel was seen to be lying. It was at onee apparent that something had happened as she was very deep in the water, and on enquiry it turned out that she had a hole in her side and a considerable quantity .of water in the hold. On going on hoard: it was manifest that she had experienced some rough usage from the sea, for the fragments of the doors of the after companion were lying on the skylight, and the decks generally presented a very wet appearance. In the after cabin nearly everything was wet through,' and water was lying on the deck to a depth of some inches. Beyond the soaking to the cabin cushions and the breaking of the doors alluded to above, no harm had been done by the sea. The . serious injury consisted of a hole in her side caused through coming in contact with some blocks or stones lying close to the end of the breakwater. The .scene on board was unusually- animated. Many anxious consignees putting in an appearance to discover, if possible, the extent of the damage (heir goods had received by the water in. the hold, and as each case came, up, expressions,: of satisfaction or disgust, according to the degree of mischief done, were both numerous and candid. The account of the disaster was furnished to our reporter by Captain Bonner -as follows : The Wakatu left Wellington at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Fresh W.N.W. winds were experienced to Stephen Island, which wus passed at 12 o’clock. There was a heavy sea in the Straits, and we came np under sail and easy steam. Arrived off the bar shortly after six o’clock, and hove to, to await the tide. We'expected to get in at 9.30. About 9 o’clock we saw that the balls were up, but were too far off to distinguish what they were. Ran down to the bar, and keeping- the beacons in a lino we came across. The lead gave close on 12 feet of water when crossing. Shipped one sea aft, which broke in the door of the companion and flooded the decks and cabin. While in the.narrovys at. the. end hf the breakwater, a “ run out” set the vessel over to the opposite side. Set the staysail to cant her head off, and almost directly after a sea caught her and threw her on (o a stone, lying about five yards from the end of the breakwater. She struck broadside on, about the after part of the waist, on the starboard side. The engines ; were slopped for : a little time to avoid injury to the propeller, She remained on the rock for about 20 seconds, and then came off. Started the engines again- at full speed ahead. When we were about 100 yards up the’ river, I asked the engineer if she was making any water, and he replied, “ No, not in the engine room.” The water soon after began to come through the hawse pipes. Ran the vessel ashore on the bank opposite the Harbour Board wharf. The vessel was insured ip the South British Co. for £4,000. The usual protest and notice to consignees has been made by the.Company and advertised in this issue. When .the tide went down this afternoon an opportunity was afforded of examining the vessel’s bottom, and ascertaining exactly the extent of the injury. There arc two holes in hot side close to the after part of the bridge the largest being some 18 inches square. There are also one or two dinges, but these are not of any material consequence. The Company have communicated with the Collector of Customs in Wanganui, and the enquiry will probably be held in a day or two. At high water to-night, the Wakatu will be slewed round, so that temporary repairs can be effected, as at present the injured side lies canted over towards the water. It is intended to dispatch the vessel on her voyage to Onehunga in about three days.