WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3820, 26 March 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day,

The Penguin Ashore

The steamer Penguin ran ashore in Tory Channel yesterday. She left, Picton for Wellington early yesterday morning, and during a dense fog the mishap occurred. It is not known if the vessel is damaged. The Hinemoa left here at midnight to render the Penguin any necessary assistance. Later. The Hinemoa arrived at Picton at seven this morning, too late for the tide. She tugged for an hour without success, and another try, will be made at four this afternoon. Malcolm and Fairchild are both very sanguine of getting her off.

Further Particulars

Blenheim, This day.

The Penguin left Picton for Wellington on Friday morning at two .o'clock. The night was bright and clear when the steamer left, but after steaming down the harbour about six miles land was observed a few yards ahead. The engines were immediately reversed full astern, but the steamer could not be checked, and she ran on the beach, the steering gear being carried away at the same time. There was no noise or confusion, and the bump could not have been heavy, as many of the passengers thought, on waking, that the boat had arrived at Wellington wharf on the engines being stopped. It was high water when the steamer when ashore. Great efforts were made to float her yesterday, but to no purpose.

The steamer Torea, which left for Grove, Torea Bay, and Watamunga yesterday morning early, saw the Penguin on the beach, and the captain at once directed his course to the scene, and was soon alongside. Captain Miller enquired if he could render any assistance, but Captain Malcolm said he did not require any assistance, expecting to float the boat with the next tide in the afternoon. The Torea offered to take any despatches to Picton direct, and she then proceeded to Grove, and from thence to Watamunga. Before proceeding to Picton the little steamer again went to the Penguin, and Captain Malcolm asked them to take a line and try to tow her off, it being about high water. Owing, however, to a strong S.E. wind blowing, she was nnable for some little time to receive a line, but at last one was 1 thrown aboard, and aflrer tugging at; it some time iv vain, the line broke. Captain Malcolm wished them to take another, but owing to there being something wrong with the pump, the Torea could, not take a Hue. " '

The beach where the Penguin went ashore is composed of loose gravel and sand, so that no damage can possibly be done to the steamer. There is about 12 fathoms of water amidships, so that only her stern is aground. All her cargo was shifted astern yesterday, and about 40 tons of water pumped in her, but even then she did not move. The purser States there was a dense fog at the time of the accident. The steamer was expected to floaL early this morning. Ths Latest Picton, This day, The Penguin got off at 1.30; no damage whatever. She will be iv Wellington about 6.30.