SHIPPING DISASTERS AT HOKITIKA.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1151, 17 February 1874, Page 4

SHIPPING DISASTERS AT HOKITIKA.

The Westland Begister of the 11th instant gives the following account of shipping disasters at Hokitika:— " Yesterday, as the tug Titan was towing in the schooner Florence, from Lyttelton, the force of the current which was running south, caused the tug to ground on the South Spit. The schooner hoisted sail and endeavoured to escape to sea, but the current was too strong, and, the wind dying away, she was stranded to the southward of where the Titan is lying. Unfortunately, we have another shipping casuality to chronicle. The steamers Waipara and "Wallace arrived off the bar about five o'clock, and the signal "Ebb tide, current running very strong," was made to them. The Waipara first essayed the bar, and was a considerable time in the break. Eventually, the southerly current proved too strong, and this smart little steamer was and is piled up on the beach, some distance south of where the Florence grounded. Her position is very critical, and it i« scarcely probable she will be got off without some expense. The p.s. Wallace followed the Waipara, and grounded on the outer bank, but managed, with some difficulty, to steam stern first out of her unpleasant position, otherwise it is certain she would have met with thefate of her unfortunate predecessor. She, however, got safely out to the roadstead."

Neither of the vessels named had been got off up to this (Saturday) morning.