NEAR THE BLUFF.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 16, 19 September 1913, Page 5

NEAR THE BLUFF.

BARQUE OKTA WRECKED.

AFTER AN EVENTFUL VOYACE.

[Per Press Association.]

Invercargill, September 18

The customary quietness of the Bluff had its veil penetrated about midday to-day when it became known that a strange ship had struck the rocks in the vicinity of Stirling Point, about a mile and a half distant from the wharf. The first reliable information that came to band showed that the unknown vessel was the Norwegian barque Okta, bound from Port Yukon, Tasmania, to Falmouth, England, with a cargo of sawn timber. She left the Tasmanian port on September 6, with the intention of making her way by the customary trade course round Cape Horn. The barque was not more than twenty-four hours out from her port of departure when it was discovered that a leak had been sprung. It was then decided to alter the original intention and make for New Zealand. The pumps were set to work and the men, in the face of tempestuous seas stuck grimly to their task of keeping the water clear. They endured great hardships. The seas •washed the barque from stern to stem and at times it seemed that the sea would win at any moment. The worst was expected, although the pumps were being successfully plied. For thirteen days the Okta was buffeted about the seas. They oroke over her from all quarters.

Early yesterday morning the mainland was picked up. At 9 o'clock a pilot was signalled for. Every moment the required assistance was expected, but it never, came. Hugging the land closely, the Okta came round the point" leading into the channel entrance. At twenty minutes to twelve, the Okta struck a jutting portion of a rock, about three hundred yards from Stirling Point, at a distance of about one hundred and fifty yards from the shore. An endeavour was made at the first indication of striking to steer clear, but it was too late. Going ahead at a speed of eight miles an hour she went on to the rock with a tremendous grating crash that shook the barque from end to end. Quickly she settled down by the stern and made water fast.

The captain realised that the end had come, and all aboard made what preparations were then possible to get clear. From Stirling Point station word was communicated to the Bluff, and the Harbor Board's tug Theresa Ward went out to the scene and brought the captain and crew off the barque up to the wharf. By three o'clock, at high water, the Okta'9 deck was awash, and she was hard and fast on the rock. Although it appeared that, the Okta was at her last anchorage, definite information on that point cannot be proffered until an examination is made at low water.

The .rock on which the Okta struck has been the scene of three previous disasters in the history of the port They range back to a period of nearly half a century, the steamer Scotia. The Maid of Otago, and The Pelham all having gone to their doom in thif locality. The rock has been designated Pelham Rock. It has been freely admitted by members of the Okta's crew that the absence of a chart dealing with tlv conditions pertaining to the local port placed them at a disadvantage in navigating the waters surrounding the channel entrance. By the possession of a chart the lay of the buoys and the harbor marks could have been clearly followed. The failure of the 'port authorities to pick up the Okta'f signal for a pilot has been explained by tb)i fact that a heavy haze obscured all vision from the signal station o: Bluff Hill.

An official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the wreck will b< held. '