MISHAP ON BAR

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 178, 21 March 1932, Page 7

MISHAP ON BAR

Our Own • Gorrespondent) .

COASTAL VESSEL AGROUND AT WHAKATANE ENTRANCE REFLOATED ON SATURDAY

(From

WHAKATANE, Saturday. The Northern Steamship Copipapy'g motor vessel Toa (208 tons-),, after undergoing a severe buffeting on the rocks in the western channel of the Whakatane bar and later being( piled up on the rocks in the eastern channel, was successfully reflpated on Saturday afternoon about 3.30 when, with the aid of the flood tide and hawsers connected to the neighbouring rocks, she was navigated successfully to the wharf. The Toa arrived off Whakatane on Wednesday last, but owing to the shallowness of the bar, no attempt was made to enter the port. The drv

weather conditions which have existed for some time past and the prevailing westerly winds caused the shallowing of the eastern entrance and on Friday the vessel endeavoured to negotiate the western channel. Following the Harbour Board launch, she attempted to cross through the western channel which is not oftep used. At the time the eastern channel was showing only 4ft 6in of water, while it was understood that there was about 6ft in the western channel. However, she ran aground on the bar and was gradually piled up near the rocks opposite the western beacon, where' she lay on ' a hard sand bottom exposed to the

'"""J V- B I-, ! =S , breakers on the bar, Jfoytunately at the time the weather was moderately fine and lines were made fast to the western beacon rock. PosiDon Becomes Seripus At one o'clock this morning a norwesterly set in and matters became very serious as the waves were breaking over the vessel. However, at three o'clock, with the assistance of the Harbour Board launch and other launches she, was fioated oyer the bar, but owing to the tide again falling she was caught in the current and grounded near the pilot station. She remained in this position with her stefn well out of the water, until flood tide this afternoon, when with the assistance of the launches and the incoming tide and her cargo having been lightened by the various launches, she was brought to the wharf. The company's auxiliary boat Otimai was recalled from Opotiki and stood by' but was unable to assist the Toa, and in company with a number of launches sheltered at Whale Island for. the night. Launches' Good Work

The Harbour Board's launch Nick came in for a lot of trouble. First f ouling a line which caught in her propellor, shq was toweid back to p'ort. Later, when returning to the Toa, she was caught and piled up on the rocks near the vessel. However, on the incoming tide she was refloated in time to enable her to assist the vessel. All fishing launches in thp district gave their wholehearted assistance and much cred^t must be given them for the extreihe pains they took to alleviate the position, Mr. G. Clark's Tauranga launch iri particular did excellent work and Mr. Clark, on the second grounding of the Toa near the pilot station, laced the Toa with steel ropes to the neighbouring rocks and made the task of refloating her on the flood tide much easier. The cargo on the Toa consisted mainly of benzine and general merchandise for Whakatane.

The damage to the vessel has not yet been ascertained, but a considerable .amount of h'er sheathing has been chafed as a result of the contact with the rocks and it is understood that she was making a little water. However, the actual damage cannot be ascertained until the removal of the whole cargo which is expected to be complet'ed to-night. The vessel has a crew of ten, Captain L. McDonald being master.