BROUGHT TO PORT.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 1796, 8 July 1931, Page 8

BROUGHT TO PORT.

CRIPPLED CITY OF KIMBERLEY. With a broken tail shaft and no propeller, the Eilerman-Bucknall steamer City of Kimberley, bound from New York to Auckland, arrived after being towed for 1335 miles by the New Zealand Shipping Company's motor vessel Opawa, which rescued the distressed ship in the Pacific Ocean on Jllll3 22. This was one of the longest towing feats to end at Auckland. "The most probable thing is that the vessel struck a submerged object," said Captain A. W. Wooster, master of the City of Kimberley. "At 1.55 p.m. on Sunday, June 21, we were standing on deck talking, when suddenly tho ship commenced to vibrate violently. We knew at once that the trouble concerned the propeller. We put a ladder down over the stern, and found that the propeller had gone, and part of the shaft had broken off. A wireless call for aid was sent out, and next day the Opawa arrived. The tow commenced that evening, and proceeded without incident, the day's run varying from 185 miles to 100 miles.". Captain Wooster said a new propeller and shaft would have to be obtained from England, which would probably mean that the vessel would bo laid "up for two months. No water had leaked into the ship, but until she had been examined in dock, the full extent of the damage would not be known. The cargo for Auckland, which is on the City of Kimberley, will be unloed»fL at Auckland in the ordinary way. 4s the vessel will probably be delayed for some time awaiting repairs, the question of transhipping her other cargo mav arise. No decision, however, will be made in this direction until the vessel has entered the dry dock, and the extent of the damage is estimated. The vessel carries general cargo from New York, for Auckland, Wellington, Napier, Lvttcltoii, Duuclin a'"' Sydney.