ALBUM -1898. SHIPWRECK on the present site of the SPEEDWAY TRACK, Cobden Tip Head, Greymouth.

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Description1898. SHIPWRECK on the present site of the SPEEDWAY TRACK, Cobden Tip Head, Greymouth. The red line marks the Shipwreck location.

Saturday 11 March, 1898 The launching of the Mapourika yesterday morning brought with it a sense of extreme gratification to everyone in Greymouth. This was deepened still further when it was seen what a splendid job had been made of the repairs. Few looking at this splendid boat as she now lies alongside the wharf, or anyone unacquainted with the trying experiences she has gone through could possibly have any idea of the buffeting she had to face and the severe injuries she sustained through, her encounter with the rocks of the north tiphead.

She looks as complete and well finished as when she first steamed up the Grey River. Her bow is as clean and sharp as when she left the builder’s yard.

It is almost difficult to imagine that her shapely bow was only some five months ago torn to pieces and crushed out of all shape, with a great yawning opening and holes along the side that would take in water enough in five minutes to swamp her, while her plates along one side were dented and wrinkled as if they had been so many sheets of zinc. At first glance at the condition of the vessel on the morning of the 1 October last, many thought that nothing could be done to rescue her from the dangerous position in which she was lying and reinstate her in the condition she was in before the deplorable accident which so nearly ruined her forever.Date of Photo1898Map^[1]ContributorTony Kokshoorn

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)GreymouthOrganisation (eg business)Mapourika

Category Information

Category TagShipping

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Date Created11th October 2024CommentsJeffrey Harrison
From what I understand/remember reading about it, the ship run aground on the north side of the tiphead (Cobden side) it was repaired and then lifted over the tiphead wall and relaunched into the river.

Les Holmes Germanicus
A pity they didn't leave it if it could no longer float and it could have been an important visitor attraction where patrons could watch the speedway cars racing around i

Jeffrey Harrison
From what I understand/remember reading about it, the ship run aground on the north side of the tiphead (Cobden side) it was repaired and then lifted over the tiphead wall and relaunched into the river.

Tony Kokshoorn
Jeffrey Harrison Hi Jeffrey. That was the north side of the Tip head in 1898. A new tip head was built in 1903 to make the river entrance wider. The old Tip head is south of the speedway track where the commentary box is today.

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