EARLIER REPORTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 261, 18 August 1930, Page 5

EARLIER REPORTS.

CANNOT LAST MUCH LONGER. LINER DEVELOPS BAD LIST. AUCKLAND, August 17 A wireless message received in Auckland at 9.30 p.m., from H.M.'S. Veronica in the Eastern Pacific, reads: "The Tahiti is still afloat but as listing badly. The Penybryn is in company, and the Ventura arrives at daybreak and will take off the passengers. "The Tahiti cannot last much longer. "Penybryn has. only 100 tons of coal". SHIPS SPEED TO RESCUE. WELLINGTON, August 16. It was stated that the ship's pumps would be able to keep the water in check, and the sea was fairly calm. The Union Company did not think that the Ventura and the Tofua would be able to reach the Tahiti before Monday morning. It was reported that steps would be taken to bring the Marama, now laid up at Wellington, on the Tahiti's run, but the company says it is too early for such a step even to be considered. ARRANGEMENTS FOR LEAVING. WELLINGTON, August 17. The Union Steam Ship Company) informed the Press Association' this morning that the Tahiti's passengers would be transferred when the Penybryn arrived. The crew also would be taken off later, but might return to the ship next morning. Everything was ready for the transference. The water had been gaining from the after end of the ship, and the en-gine-room contained some, but was under control. The wireless was working well this morning. THE PASSENGERS. FIFTY-SIX FROM NEW ZEALAND. WELLINGTON, Auckland 17. The Tahiti carried 699 bags of mail and 111 parcel receptacles from New Zealand, and 500 tons of mixed cargo. Among the passengers are Sir Hugh Allen (Professor of Music at Oxford, and president of the Royal College of Music), who was returning to England after a visit to Australia and New Zealand; Mr Hector Maequarrie, author and traveller, and his companion, Mr R. 13. .Matthews, who toured New Zealand recently in a two-seater car, and intend to cross America, thence to Europe, across Asia, and back to Australia. The Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett (Bishop of Aot(;a Roa) is also a passenger. He recently underwent an operation, and was going to Rarotonga for a holiday. The Tahiti carried 56 men and women and one child from Wellington. Originally there were nine passengers booked from Christchurch, but seven of them cancelled their reservations for various reasons. The following is the full list of pas-

sengers from New Zealand:—First saloon: Mr and Mrs L. It. Andrews and child, Sir Hugh Allen, Bishop Bennett, Dr. A. J. Brass, Mrs Jackman and infant, Miss L. H, Jennings ; Mile. Blanche Le Jenne, Mr Matthews, Mr McQuarrie, Mr and Mrs Oxlade, Mrs S. E. Robinson, Mrs Steel, Mr A. Tobiason. Second saloon: Mr H. R. E. Black, Mr A. Brooks, Mrs S. Brooks, Mr S. H. Bailes, Mrs S. Hunt, Miss O. D, H. Humphries, Miss K. P. Hickson, Mr F. M. Jacobsen, Mr King, Miss K. B. Lister, Mrs B. Lilly, Mr G. E. Lafl'ey, Miss J. Lane, Mns I. Lansing, Miss McClymond, Miss R. Mayor, the Rey. H. R. Petersen, Mr C. E. Rackham; and 24 third class. There were only two passengers from Christchurch. They are Mrs Robinson, care of Mr R. B. Beals, 11, Desmond Street, Fendalton, and Mr Harry Black, 429,' Durham Street. In addition to those who went on board at Wellington there were 45 passengers from Sydney who were bound for San Francisco.

The total number of passengers on board was 103, including two children.

Mr Peterson was at one time a member of the Ashburtom staff of the Bank of Australasia, before going to the United States to study for the ministry. Some months ago he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Ashburton Baptist Church, but later withdrew, having decided to remain in America for a further period. Mr Peterson has just paid an extended visit to New Zealand, and during his stay in Ashburtoni preached in the local Baptist Church on Sunday, August 3. THE TAHITI. The Tahiti, which was formerly the Port Kingston, is a steel twin-screw steamer, built in 1904, by A. Stephen and Sons., Ltd., Glasgow, and has a registered tonnage of 7585. She is owned by the Union Steamship Company, Ltd., and is classed Al at Lloyd's. The port of registry is London. Her dimensions are: Length, 460 ft.; breadth 55.5 ft.; depth, 24.4 ft. The Tahiti sailed from Wellington last Tuesday and was due to reach Rarotonga to-day. The vessel was constructed to suit the fruit trade between Jamaica and England. The Union Company purchased her in 1910, and shortly after refitting in New Zealand, she was placed on the Sydney, New Zealand and San Francisco run, carrying passengers and mail. With the exception of a break during the war period she has been employed on the run ever since. At the commencement of the war, the Tahiti was one of the first ships to be commandeered by the military authorities and converted into a transport. She was known as transport No. 5, and left Wellington with a portion of the Main Body. Toward the conclusion of the war, she was employed as an extra hospital ship. Apart from her war service, the vessel has had an uneventful career with the exception of the very disastrous collision, with the ferry boat Greycliffe. On another i occasion she lost or carried away her anchor during bad weather and nearly grounded on one of the islands in the Pacific.

Her first Union Company commander was Captain F. P. Evans, now a solicitor in Svdney. Captain Evans had command of the vessel during the war period. When lie left the company Captain M. Edwin took charge. Later Captain Aldyell had command for some time. Her present master is Captain A. T. Totem, and he has associated with him the following officers: Messrs N. J. Sieper, D. J. McKenzie, and J. D. Crighton. Her chief engineer is Mr C. J. McPherson.