RUSTING HULL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 6

RUSTING HULL.

i_v _——• J LINER PORT BOWEN. in* POUNDED BY SEAS. re iri CASTLECLIFF SENTINEL. >1, st 0- (15y Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WAXCAXUr. this day. Once a proud unit of the British Mercantile Fleet, the stranded Port | Line steamer Port Bowen presents a j forlorn picture as the relentless seas dash against her hull to tdiower spindrift over decks upon which once trod ofliccrs and men who were proud of their ship. To-day the liner stands as a lonely sentinel on Castleeliir Beach at a time when her cargo space would be of use in helping to maintain a constant supply of foodstuffs for the j ; . j Mother Country. \l J A hull that was painted grey and ail e- J upper structure of t rim white to-day are ( dirty and rusty and what was once, a >e j proud ship is slowly becoming an eve--1-1 sore. Hour after hour in endless | succession, heavy seas lash against- her I hull building up the sand on which she h| is firmly, embedded and adding more J difficulties for those who late.r have to ir j remove the vessel from tho beach to h I comply with ail order nerved on the >e owners by the Wanganui Harbour ?t Board. Tenders have bee.n called in Australia n and Xew Zealand for the disposal of the Port Bowen, but no word has been (l received of the decision of the underwriters. The. engines and fittings of the i- liner are of considerable value, but the le task of removing much of the gear 11 would be a dillieult matter, especially E * if weather conditions were unfavour--10 able. In fact, it is considered that a lot of valuable gear could not be sall!j vaged because of its weight and size. The Port Bowen has now almost* lost its sight-seeing value and its stranding is nearly forgotten. Today the rusting hull merely se.rvcs to disturb the set of the sea and cause currents and holes 1 which mean more work for the surf life- j savers. Warnings of the danger of v bathing near the Port Bowen have been given repeatedly without avail.