THE OLD TALUNE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1926, Page 13

THE OLD TALUNE.

ALLEGED BLUNDERING. A DERELICT AT GISBOKNE. HULK TO ACT AS BREAKWATER. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star."i GISBORNE, this day. A very strong criticism of the work of the Government in connection with Waikokopu Harbour is made in the "Herald." which says: "The whole of the work appears to be ill a tangle. There was a great rleal of work that was costly and possibly dangerous. this being particularly emphasised in connection with the ' sinking of the Tahine. This vessel had been purchased by the Government and towed to Waikokopu. and for all the interest nowbeing taken in the vessel she seems to be left to sink herself, an event which might easily occur when the first southerly sprang up. In the opinion of many the Waikokopu was a mistake from Ihe start, and it is difficult to understand why the Government does not now cut its losses. It will be two months nn Wednesday since the Taliine arrived at Waikokopu. Even her arrival was an indication of the subsequent maladministration. The vessel was cast adrift from the Hinemoa, hv which she was towed some considerable distance from the anchorage, and the Hinemoa returned to Auckland without stopping her propeller. Xo assistance was given in mooring the Tahine. and no instructions were given for her handling. In an endeavour to make the Tahine pay for the towage to Waikokopu she was loaded with a cargo of cement and posts, but instead of saving money the scheme proved a costly one. and the cement is stated to he the most expensive ever landed at Waikokopu. It might be contended, of course, that the cargo was Varried as ballast, but in that event it would have been more economical had she been loaded with ballast, with which she could have been sunk. No one apparently knows how the sinking operation is to be carried out, and the only information anyone can give 13 that she is going to be hitched to a post on the shore, pulled in as far as possible, and the seacocks opened. "The site where the Tahine is supposed to be eventually sunk is a little to the south of the wharf. For a distance of 200 feet or more from the shore a flat reef runs out to sea. Beyond the reef there is approximately 30 feet of water. The intention is to draw the Talune upon this reef, but whether the proposal is feasible remains to be proved. The mean draught of the boat at present is about 11 feet, and it is extremely doubtful whether she will go over the reef. The probability is that she will stick half way. in which ease it would be more profitable to sink her out at sea where she would be out of the way of navigation and far less likely to constitute a danger. "If the attempt at sinking comes up to expectations, which is doubtful. Ihere is a grave doubt whether the vessel will remain where she is sunk. Xo bed has been prepared for her, but she is to be allowed to rest on the rocky bottom and is to be filled with rubble. How long the hull of the vessel will Stand the buffeting of the waves and the constant movement of the rocks

inside and out. is a matter for conjecture. Perhaps the most serious aspect of the position, however, is the danger to the crew of the Talune. It is. of course, impossible for the vessel to be controlled in any way, for the reason that she has not even a winch on board. Slip is secured only by two old chaine. rusted and weak, and should she break away little could be done to prevent her washing up on the beach. The crewstill remains on board. The Talune is still anchored in the stream, and no provision has been made for the further safety of the crew. Tn the event of nothing happening nothing is likely to lie said, but should a mishap follow the risks that are being taken there will be something to answer for."