Inverbank Stranded.

From Our Own Correspondent.

SUVA, August 16.

WHILE en route from Suva to Elling ton on the morning of August 14, the motor vessel Inverbank (5149 tons), which is under charter to the Colonial Sugar Refining Co. to load sugar at El lington, Labasa and Lautoka. went ashore on the Chaumimmasi reef, near the mouth of the Ba River. An attempt to refloat the vessel at high water on the night she went ashore was unsuccessful.

The vessel is in sheltered water, and in no immediate danger. She is not mak ing water, so apparently no damage has been done. It is thought that there will not be much difficulty in refloating her with the assistance of another vessel, and the Burns, Philp (South Sea) Co. inter insular steamer Malake is proceeding to the scene of the mishap from Lautoka. If further assistance is required, the m.v.

Beulah, which is at Lautoka, will also be diverted to the Inverbank.

Captain W. Forster is in command of the Inverbank, which came to Fiji from Auckland. The future movements of the vessel depend on the result of an exam ination of the hull when she is refloated.

After several attempts the Inverbank was refloated on August 21, during a spring tide. The vessel returned to Suva for examination.