ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 143, 19 June 1899, Page 5

ARRIVAL AT SYDNEY.

SYDNEY, this day.

The s.s. Talnne, -with the Perthshire in tow, entered Sydney Heads shortly after 7 this morning, and was taken to an anchorage in Neutral Bay.

Naturally the steamer bears considerable evidence of the severe handling site received while drifting for fifty days practically at the mercy of the winds and sea in an ocean which is not characterised by its calmness, and which, during- the greater portion of the time that the Perthshire was helpless, was swept by almost continuous boisterous gales. ■

Beyond the outward signs which the sterner bears of having been for a long_ while buffeted by the sea, no damage has been done, and it is understood that the large quantity of frozen meat on board^is in excellent order. After dropping her tow at Neutral Bay the Talune's run up the harbour to 4ier berth at the Union Company's Bridge-street wharf was in the nature of a triumphal procession.

The shrill whistles of the smaller steamers, even if it brought about somewhat of a pandemonium, was, in its way, a hearty welcome, and as the Union steamer drew near her wharf large crowds cheered almost continuously. A Press Association representative interviewed Captain Spinks of the Talune as soon as the steamer was made fast. g He learned that every night, when well off the coast, rockets were fired hourly from the deck of the Talune. The Perthshire was sighted at 3.30 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, the 13th, in lat. 29.3 south and longitude 163.38 east (?), about 700 miles from Sydney. She asked for assistance and the Talune stood by till daylight. The weather at the time was fine, with a moderate breeze. By 8.30 the Perthshire's hawser had been got aboard, and a start was made.

Proceeding at half-speed progress throughout Tuesday and Wednesday was fair.

The wind had, however, been increasing, and on Thursday morning it was blowing a moderate gale, witJi sharp rain squalls and heavy head sea. At 8 o'clock the tow rope, anxiety about which had been felt throughout the night,.parted.

Preparations were immediately made to re-establish the connection, a task which the high sea rendered exceedingly difficult.

Eventually a line was passed aboard the Perthsire by means of a rocket, and the chain cables were by means of this connected.

A fresh start was made nt lour in the afternoon, and despite the strong head wind and heavy sea the cables, which were tested to the utmost, held throughout Thursday night and Friday.

The weather then moderated and the wind veeringl to the south-west sail was set on the Perthshire' and without further incident the two steamers arrived in Port Jackspn early this morning.

Captain Spinks has been warmly congratulated on all sides on the long and successful towing feat accomplished by the .Talune.

Captain Spinks kept to the track marked out by him at Wellington, and the result t has demonstrated the accuracy of his judgment. A cable from the owners of the Perthshire was awaiting him conveying congratulations, and Captain Spinks has also been warmly congratulated by the local shipping men upon his luck and success in the face ofo adverse weather. The Talune's passengers also presented an address. \ When picked up the Perthshire's shaft had been repaired, and she was heading north under steam at the rate of 4A knots per hour. She whs then within 41! miles of Norfolk Island. From the date of leaving Sydney on April 26 throughout the long drift the weather was stormy.

The steamer was carried helplessly some 1400 miles, crossing and reerossing the track of steamers and expecting to be picked up at any time. ' ...-■■

No attempt was made to mend' the shaft till she had drifted out of tha track of New Zealand steamers.

The Perthshire broke her shaft, at six o'clock on the evening of the 28th of April. The fracture was within four feet of the end, but the engineers succeeded in repairing the shaft on .Tune 11th after ten days labour by means of a patent coupling. But for the passengers aboard the captain would probably have attempted to make port unaided. Though the experiences of those on board "we're exciting they Buffered little inconvenience. The cmly fear was that the steamer might drift ashore after passing; out of the track of regular commerce. Note: The longitude where the Talue picked lip the Perthshire is given as 163.38, but as this hardly corresponds with other statements it is probable that it should read 16S, and this latter is the position marked on the chart given above.