Hydrabad

New section added to Hometown.

This is the ship Hydrabad that was wrecked of Waitarere Beach. Was down at that beach today could'nt find it any where. Must be covered in sand again. I remember going to the beach at waitarere when younger and climbing all over it. It was like the wreckage picture then.
this was in the early 60's.

The Hydrabad

http://digital.natlib.govt.nz/get/22461?profile=access
was Built in 1865 at Port Glasgow, Scotland, and was owned by Stephens and Sons, London
Captain Holmwood
The Hydrabad was a square-rigged ship with three masts.
Her official number was 30642 of 1865.'
Built of Lowmoor iron,
Lenght 229.5 feet [69.9 metres] long,
Beam 37.2 feet [11.2 metres]
Depth was 23.2 feet [7 metres]
1350 tons register
She had 2 holds.

Her figurehead was Hindu warrior, with a colourful turban, sash and flowing white robe, and a black bushy beard. His left hand was gripping a sword. This ended up at foxton beach in someones garden but unfortunatley its gone now
A picture of this can be seen here http://horowhenuahistory.library.org.nz/exhibit1/e10200b.htm

A little history on what happened to the ship.

On 24 June 1878 on route to Adelaide, Australia from Lyttelton, NZ.
the ship struck a severe storm, After battling the storm she ended up of the horowhenua coast and could'nt get back out to sea. The captain drove the vessel onto the beach at Waitarere.There was no loss of life
There were two attempts, in November 1878 and 7 Jan 1879 to refloat the ship; these did'nt succed
The vessel was abandoned following fire that was so fierce that the hull planks were buckled. She was insured for £15,000 and her cargo for £24,500.

Picture of the Wreckage
http://digital.natlib.govt.nz/get/11916?profile=access

Successive storms have left the wreck well above high water mark. The wreck is now covered with sand, and is occasionally uncovered and recovered through storm and wind action.
There has been talk of erecting a memorial to the ship ,but unsure if any thing has been done??