THE KOWHAI.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1919, Page 7

THE KOWHAI.

HEAVY SWELL hampers OPERATIONS.

At noon on Sunday the Union Company's tug Terawhiti returned to port after making an unsuccessful attempt to tow tlie freighter Kowhai off the beach at JFarewell Spit. The Kowhai, | whilst bound to Westport from One' hunga, went ashore ou the spit during a fog on the 9th inst., at about 4 .p.m., settling on a hard sandy bottom about sis miles north of the lighthouse. The Terawhiti left port on Monday night last with salvage gear, and has since been engaged in endeavoring to get the Kowhai off. Captain Walton, marine superintendent for the Union Company, was in charge of the operations, but owing to the heavy swell experienced very little could be done towards getting the vessel off.

From information gathered by a Dominion reporter it appears that the Kowhai's position is considered safe, and that there is every chance of getting her off. As far as is known the vessel has' not suffered any damage to her hull. She has a list to starboard, and is considered to be in a fairly safe position. At low tide she is practically high and' dry, and at full tide the slight rocking indicates that she is resting on the sandb amidships. The heavy swell experienced' rendered towing operations almost impossible, as the Terawhiti could not get nearer than a mile to the shore. The? tug has been working from Totaranu', and on Wednesday met the Komata, I which brought & five-ton mushroom 1 anchor from Wellington. This wasdropped over .about a mile from the Kowhai. and a line; was passed to the: Kowhai. A strain; was taken on the; line and the Terawiiti attempted to tow, but very little movement was noticed. On Friday/the Isaraxn.il joined in the salvage operations, and another tow was attempted. ... The Karamu's line snapped, but the Kowhai was: moved about two points. It is now proposed tor drop another mushroom anchor. Both,anchors wilt be connected to the Kowhai; and in order to obtain a more strain a double purchase will be used.. Using the Kowhai'a own winches it is hoped that the vessel will re-float herself.

Captain Dinsmore is remaining on theJ Kowhai with some of his engiae-rgfL staff, whilst the majority of the ere l *.. campin? on the Spit some ' " from the lighthouse. They r " n r „ ported to be comfortably