MATUA HITS REEF

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22960, 11 February 1938, Page 10

MATUA HITS REEF

MISHAP AT NUKUALOFA SOME DAMAGE CAUSED 5$ ; VESSEL DEVELOPS LEAK ITINERARY NOT INTERRUPTED ["BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] " WELLINGTON, Thursday Advice was received this morning the Union Steam Ship Company that the motor-ship Matua met with a niishap when entering Nukualofa harbour the principal port of Tonga, or tha Friendly Islands. The exact cause ig not known, but it is believed to have been due to some change in the buoyg marking the difficult eastern entrance to the harbour.

Apparently the Matua struck a sub. merged reef, the impact causing some damage to the after part of the ship and the propellers. The vessel is said to be making some water.

The Matua left Wellington on Janu«" ary 29 and Auckland on February 1 for Rarotonga, where she arrived last Saturday. Thence she proceeded to Nukualofa, where she was due on Wed. liesday.

An inspection of the' damage »a» made, but the full extent could not be ascertained. It was apparently not very serious. The Matua is to complete her itinerary, calling at Apia and Suva before returning to Auckland, where she is due on February 21. The ship will then come to Wellington to go into dry dock about February 24 for survey and re., pairs.

The Matua is a twin-screw motorship of 4193 tons built for the lslandi trade in 1936 to the order of the Union Steam Ship Company. She is 35oft. long and has a beam of 50ft. and > depth of 21ft.