SHIPPING DISASTER AT HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1136, 26 December 1873, Page 2

SHIPPING DISASTER AT HOKITIKA.

The following telegram has been received, dated the 22nd instant:—

The Lioness and the Aborigine are both on the bar. The Dispatch tried to tow off the Lioness, but it was too late on the tide.

The Lioness floated off the Spit last night, but could not come in, and had to run to sea, as it was too heavy to ride at anchor. She slipped her cable, losing an anchor in the roadstead, and came in by a perfect miracle at 1 a.m. The Aborigine broke her line, floated off the South Spit and came ashore in a worse position on the North Spit. She is much damaged, and is expected to become a total wreck.

Further particulars of the disaster are given by the Westland Register.— "We regret to say that the brigantine Aborigine, while being towed into the river, on Saturday morning, grounded and canted round in the channel. The Lioness, in endeavoring to get her off, unfortunately went ashore on the South Spit. On observing the mishap, the tug Dispatch went to assist, but it was too late on the tide to be of service. Owing to the furious north-west gale blowing, and the heavy sea running during Saturday, very little could be done towards the preservation of the brigantine, which was, however, on Saturday night, hauled on the north bank. On Sunday morning, about 40 tons of cargo were got out, and subsequently a quantity more, the latter being much damaged by seawater, and it is feared that all the remaining cargo is now completely damaged. The brigantine now lies deck on to sea, which renders the work of discharging her much more difficult than it otherwise would be. At high tide on Sunday the sea broke over the vessel and damaged her considerably. Yesterday afternoon a number of men were at work striking the masts and sending down the rigging, and everything was done to save the vessel and cargo, both by the harbormaster, Captain Turnbull, and all concerned; but the fierce gale blowing—one of the severest ever experienced on the Coast—rendered the most strenuous efforts nugatory. The Lioness was thought at one time to be in danger, but about high water on Saturday night she got up steam, and the fresh cutting away the bank on which she had grounded, she steamed off safely to sea, and to the surprise of many, steamed across the bar shortly afterwards, and after a desperate struggle against the heavy fresh in the river, got safely to the wharf on Sunday morning, none the worse for the mishap.