COLLISION AT SYDNEY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 246, 14 October 1908, Page 5

COLLISION AT SYDNEY.

• — THE MINTARO AND WAIRUNA. BOTH VESSELS DAMAGED. SYDNEY, October 7. A serious collision occurred in the harbour off Farm Cove last evening between the steamers Mintaro and Wairuna. Both vessels were damaged, the Mintaro so much so that she had to return to wharf with her bow patched up with collision mats, to discharge cargo prior to docking. The Mintaro belongs to the Adelaide S.S. Company's fleet, and is a well-known cargo boat of the line employed in the in-ter-State trade. The Wairuna. sails under the Union S.S. Company's flag, and is also a cargo steamer. At the time of the mishap the Mintaro was outward bound for Melbourne. Captain Snaddon had command of the i Mintaro. and Captain Robinson was in charge of the Wairuna. The collision occurred about 20 minutes to 7 o'clock, the weather being clear at the time. The Wairuna, it appears, had coaled | H.Ms. Psyche off Garden Island, and was I moving away from that warship under j her own steam to proceed alongside the Pyramus. The hitter was moored-well iup in Farm Cove, and it was necessary for the Wairuna to steam out and swing between the flagship Powerful and H.M.s. t'ibraltar, just on the dark side of Pinehgut. While the Union boat, was thus manoeuvring, the Mintaro came down the harbour, taking the track ou the southern side ot Pinehgut. Suddenly the Wairuna appeared ahead of her. The engines of the Mintaro were reversed, and the anchor dropped to bring the sbip up, but to no avail, for the Adelaide boat came stem on to the Wairuna, striking her amidships on the port side. The accident was witnessed from the flagship and H.M.s. Gibraltar, and boats were quickly dispatched to render any necessary aid. The captain of the Mintaro reported that his vejsel was leaking, and asked for assistance. A steam pinnace returned to the Gibraltar for collision mats. These were smartly placed over the damaged bow of the Mintaro by the artificers from tbe warships, and soon controlled '.__ leak. Meanwhile the Wairuna steamed slowly up alongside the Pyramus, where, with the assistance of the men-o-war's men, she was safely moored. Captain Robinson, when seen on board the Wairuna last night, stated that all the damage to his vessel was well above water. Two plates on the port side appeared to be dented. Asked how the collision was brought about, the captain said: "We were swinging betwen the Powerful and Gibraltar when the Mintaro came down on us. The Wairune. was stopped, and the captain of the Mint, ro, seeing a collision imminent, dropped his anchor to bring the vessel up and avoid a collision. The effect was to swing the bow of the Mintaro on top of the Wairuna. She struck her a sliding blow and damaged a couple of plates." The Mintaro reached the wharf about 10 o'clock. Captain Snaddon declined to make a statement. Mr Lethbridge, the manager of the company, boarded the steamer at the wharf. He told a "Daily Telegraph" representative that arrangements had been made to discharge the cargo of sugar in order to dock the vessel, and the work will be started first thing this morning. An examination showed that the Mintaro's bow was badly damaged. The stem appeared to be fractured, and the plates started below the water line. A quantity of water found its way into the forepeak, but the forehold was reported to be dry.