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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 25, 10 November 1930, Page 3

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corinna sunk in cook strait.

(Per Press Association.) AVELLINGTON, November 9. The Corinna, an obsolete passengei and later cargo: vessel of 1319 tons, helonging to tho Union Steam. Ship ■Conipauy, was yesterday towed into Cook Strait and supk with a charge that blew a hole in her bottom. The vesse was first stripped of the remainder ot her fittings and furnishings of value that had not been removed from net since last New Year’s Eve, on which date she was withdrawn from tlie run between Dunedin and New Plymouth. The main mast, still in an excellent state of 'preservation, was also removed. She was then towed by the tug Terawhiti to a point in Cook Strait, 20 miles from AVellington and five miles from land, which was beyond the 100 fathoms area as required by the regulations. Ninety pounds of dynamite were placed under the Corinna’s boilers and exploded electrically by wires from the Terawhiti. The explosion must have blown a hole of considerable size in her bottom, because her stern upended and she slid under tlie water in nine minutes. . . Great difficulty was experienced in carrying out the work of destruction, as heavy seas and a strong wind and rain came out of a clear sky to batter the Terawhiti against the sides of the Corinna as if the elements disapproved of the annihilation of the old vessel.