COLLISION IN HARBOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume XII, Issue 3384, 1 June 1881, Page 2

COLLISION IN HARBOUR.

The Tainui Run Into,

SOME sensation was created iv town this afternoon by tbe teport that one of the j North Shore Ferry steamers well laden with : passengers had collided in mid-stream with a large schooucr and sustained serious damage. I The report travelled rapidly, and of course j increased in circumstantiality and moving character the further it went. The facts are simply these :—The steamer Taiuui, in I charge of Captain Neill, lelt the North Shore [ wharf at two o'clock for Auckland with a : fair complomentof passengers on board and about the same time the schooner Christina, Cant Smith, left her anchorage at this side of the harbour for Russell. Both vessels were plainly visible to each other long before the possibility of a collision presented itself. When off the Railway Wharf the Christina was standing across for the northern shore, and the Tainui was steering an oblique course for her usual berth. Her captain, thinking that he had time to cross the course of the advancing schooner, held on his way, at the same time shouting out to those in charge of the sailing vessel to "keep away." Captain Smith also saw that there was some risk in the attempt to cross, and he called out for the steamer to stop. While this inceititude prevailed the sohooner rapidly approached, and eventually she struck with her how the overlapping portion of the steamer'shurrieatiedeck, aft the paddle-box, receiving the full force of the impact. The ladies who were on board the steamer were greatly alarjied at the unlooked-for mishap, and several ot them gave free expression to their fears. This feeling of feminine consternation was speedily allayed however, aud the steamer resumed her course to the wharf, the only damage she had sustained beinK the loss of a portion of her I bulwarks and some slight iujury to the j stem-head. The Christina had oniy some head-gear damaged. She dropped anchor at the scene of the collision, aud remained there. Had the steamer been struck anywhere but on the upper deck, the results might have been serious. As it is, both vessels have escaped well. The usual enquiry will doubtless take-place. ■