COLLISION IN THE GULF.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 300, 17 December 1914, Page 6

COLLISION IN THE GULF.

KETCH KATIE S. ON THE BEACH IMPACT "WITH THE WAKATEREAs the result of a collision with the passenger steamer Wakatcre at about 8.30 last night the ketch Katie S was beached on Ponui Island with her fo'c'slc stove in, her bowsprit broken off, and her hull otherwise damaged. The Wakatere escaped without more serious damage than a scratching of paint on the fore part of the hull, and after standing by for fifty minutes she was able <to proceed on her trip. In relating the story of the mieJiap to a reporter. Captain Sullivan, of the Wakatere. said that he was seated in Tiie cabin at the time, and only realised that something was amise when the impact occurred. Just before that be heard the tinkle of the telegraph bell. "I hastened to the deck," remarked the captain, '"and tried to hail 'the captain of the ketch, but, finding that difficult on account of the etrong breeze, I lowered a boat. They asked for a line, and we gave it to them, and after receiving an assurance that we could render no further help the Wakatere came on, arriving at Auckland three-quarters .of an hour time.

The bridge at the time of the accident was in charge of the second mate, Mr. Neil McArthur. It appears that the Wakatere wae just rounding the lighthouse opposite the sandspit in Ponui Passage on her way from Thames, when the starboard light of the ketch appeared, coming Tound the lighthouse point. Each endeavoured to avoid the other, but the Katie S, well loaded with a cargo of coke for Thames, was running before a stiff breeze at a speed of about four knots, and the Wakatere was eteaming at the rate of about ten knots, and an impact almost immediately occurred.

Passengers by the steamer state that there was no confusion after the mishap occurred. They, of course, felt the jar of the collision, and hnstened to ■make investigations, but as the ketch was in shallow -water on the sandepit it web realised that those aboard were in no danger. The passengers pay a tribute to the ee&man-like way in. which Captain Sullivan and 'his officers endeavoured to afford relief. They state thai the weather was rather thick, but that both vessels were properly lighted. The Katie S. is owned by James Smith and Company, and she was proceeding to Thames with a load -of coke for the iNorthern Steamship Company. She is in charge of Captain 'Xornran Matheson, who is standing 'by his vessel. The steamers 'P&eroa and CJlenelg, of the Northern Co.'s fleet, left at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively to assist in the efforts to 'bring the Katie S. to Auckland for repairs. The amount of damage has not yet ibeen ascertained.