STRANDING OF THE P.S. PATERSON IN THE WAITARA RIVER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 2220, 18 July 1874, Page 2

STRANDING OF THE P.S. PATERSON IN THE WAITARA RIVER.

The p.s. Peterson, of 260 tons burden and 020 nominal horse-power, was built, for the Sydney and Huuter .River trado 4 bat was replaced some time since by a boat of .superior build and accommodation. On iicasrs. Brogdou aud Sons completing arraugecionts with the New Zealand Government, for the construction of certain lines of railway in New Zealand, that firm sent Captain Konnedy to Sydney to procare a sieauior suitable for their carrying trade, <*iii he uveotaaily purchased the Paterson. 'iris was her second trip to Waitara, she having been there about four weeks since. At ihut lime she was drawing nine feet of waior, out ou the present occasion she was drawing only seven feet, tuu inches, and there was considerably more water in the chaunel. The Paterson left Wellington, ou her present voyage, at 5.30 p.m. on the 11th instant, e^perieuoed slrong sontherly gale with heavy raiu throughout, and arrived oil the Wnitara at 7.30 a.m. ou the 13ih, oronghisr the bar at 8.30. A heavy fresh running out of the river at the time, it caught the steamer on her port bow, theroby paying har bead roaud and leaving her broadside ou to the channel, and causing her to ground on the north ppit. Lines wore immediately run out, bet all eudcarours to get her off proved unsuccessful, and until tho tide left her she v.-aa bumping heavily. At low water she was found to have two feec six inches of water in her aMor hold. Preparations wer* then made 1-. fk.it hoi* on the night'-a tide. Orders wore given to have steam ready, aud at about 9.30 p.- 1 :, sh« floateU off, but tho strength of the curreut being too great, it swung her right oil to tbu south beach, striking still heavier than during the morning's tide. She then baa fire feet of wator in her after hold and three feet six inches in the engine-room. All efforts to shift ker were unavailing, and for the snfely of ship and cargo it was deamed expedient ho lighten her. During the uight, iv couseque nco of the heavy rains, the fresh iucreased, -and the water running out of the river at about, eight knots caused her to swing off the bauk and part her linos. Both anchors were immediately let go to prevent her from urifting over the bet . She was then* making w.itor rapidly fore and aft. At this juncture. Captain Mundle had serions doabts us to the anchors holding. Had thoy dragged, or the chaiua parted, nothing could havo saved the v< *sel from destruction and every soul on '• ml must Lave porisbod, aathe sea on the ur>>-w.y-, "er'j heavy, and no boat could have Jiv(_din is. On the moruing of VVednesda^ iajt, rho fillod right, up to tbo hurriCHi.e deck, and everything possible to be got a* --U3 taken on shore. A ohapter of accidei.ts ooeurred on the day tho vessel stranded. Ou«j of liio crew, in a drunken fit, attempted to roach ihe tttoamer by mentis of a line from tbe ve«sel that was fastened oo shore. Losing hia hold, it became evident he would beoarried awny, so the second officer went immediately to jiia rescue, and he likewise misted bis bold of the rope. Mr. John C.itneron, the Haibour Master at Waitara, then rushed wto Ihe water tuid caught hold of tho second officer ; but, being unable to return, oalled for assistance. Such was the strength of tba current that, although bat a short distance from the bank, the men coo Id "ft ho.J their footing. Tho boatsnain, a strong athletic tnaa, then camo to the resono, and Bcc^eedod in bring the threo men ashore, one at a time. Too much praise cannot be awarded for their gallant behaviour on this occasion. ()u reaching the beach, Mr. Camuron was complottly exhausted, having to support himself on tbe line with one hand, and, with the othor, held on to tho second officer. Providentially no delay arose or all would have been drowned. On Thursday, attempts wero made to land & portion of her cargo, but the fresh was too swift, and it was found impossible to work the boats alongside. Up to thin (ime, the bteatner had been lying on her biige, broadside to the current, bat the fresh townnls evening considerably decreasing, with tho night's tide she oomplt-tely righted herpeli, and yesterday morning the crow were enaDlod to work her. Caprain Mundle has received instruc'ions to secure her stem and stsrn, aud to use evory endeavour to discharge her wiih all possible speed. The n mount of damage done cannot as yet be nsonrtaii.cd, bat a sirvey will bo held to-day, when it will be decided whkt coarse will hi adopted with regard to her. Captain JMundlc has done all he can to save his vessel, an. l it \a to be hoped th«t we may yet hear, of :u- P.Uorr'on a;;am being afloat. The vessel, wo linlicvo, is insured for £5,000, or £6,000 divv't rl between the Now Zetland, National, South Untish, and Victoria lusmance Comi>:uiies ; but nothing certain \< known about it, ;.s jut.