SALVAGE FROM WILTSHIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 167, 16 July 1923, Page 5

SALVAGE FROM WILTSHIRE.

V-XTTA_U__ CARGO ARRIVES. EIGHT PROPELLER BLADES. D-VER'S DIFFICULT WORK. \ Much of the salvage that is now being obtained from the wreck of the sunken Wiltshire at the Great Barrier Island consists of fittings from the hull. Borne 70 tons arrived at the Queen's wharf on Saturday by the ecow Ngahau, including a varied assortment of engineroom gear and pipes that had suffered considerably from the effects of sea water. The most valuable part of the scow's freight consisted of eight propeller blades, each weighing two tons and measuring "ft Bin in length and 4ft across at the widest part. Seven of (these were removed from the propeller shafts by divers working 20 fathoms below the surface, and the eighth was obtained from No. 6 hold. There are only two propeller blades left on the Wiltshire, one of which is affixed to a propeller shaft, and embedded in the rock, while the other is covered with heavy cargo in No. 0 hold, and will be very difficult to salvage. The Ngahau also brought two of the Wiltshire's lifeboats, each measuring 28ft in length, and in good, order. These were removed from the wreck about a year ago and have been lying at Tryphena. They were hroug.t to Auckland to be taken on board by the Westmoreland for London for the Federal Steam Navigation Company.

A five-ton condenser from the WiM* shire, though looking rusted and badly battered, is also reported to be valuable for the thousand copper pipes which it contains. In the balance of the cargo are five tons of cotton waste, 14 tons of wire rope, as well as pig iron, hatch beams, galvanised pipes, tiles, glass, railway locomotive axles, and bottles.

Captain H. Carey, who is command of the scow Ngahau, states that the divers are now working in No. 4 hold of the wrecked steamer. The three forward holds are too heavily embedded on the rocks -for safe working; and after avery storm the mass of debris and twisted iron and broken fittings is increased. In fine weather, when the sea is smooth, the sunken hull of the vessel can be plainly discerned beneath the water, and part of the engine-room is open to view. The task of the divers is rendered difficult and dangerous by the large amount of loose iron is the holds, which is thrown over the cargo by the heavy seaß.