Stead

Our About the South columnist on the mining of huge sand dunes; the wreck of the Laughing Water and the first visit by a sail training vessel.

The first idea was to pass through Foveaux Straits to the Bluff, but, sighting a clump of rocks off Paihi point, they pulled in to seek shelter between them and the mainland. Worldwide, far too few of the elegant sailing ships and early steamships survive. Mrs Gibson (the captain's wife) and her child, aged 4 years, had to leave their berth clad only in their night dresses, while several of the crew were equally unprepared for the emergency. This was done, and she stood off till 10.16, going about 4 knots, when the ship struck violently on a sunken rock, staving the whole bow in at one blow. A massive amount of sand was mined in Otatara from 1910 onwards for a few years. This gentleman immediately supplied food to all, and clothing to Mrs Gibson and child, and then took them to his house, where they remained until Monday, when they proceeded to Riverton overland.”