THE WAIKATO.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10482, 21 October 1899, Page 7

THE WAIKATO.

Mr L Gibbs, manager of tiie New Zealand Shipping Company here, received a cablegram yesterday from Captain Weston, stating that the discharging of the Waikato had been delayed, but that be hoped to sight the shaft either to-day or Monday. The salvage claim made by tbe owners of the Afi-oun will be determined by the Ad__*l_y Court in England, which will Ihear the case on the arr-vcil of the Waikato an London. Ia tbe m the London offioj of the New Zealand Stepping Company will provide security lor —k> payment of t_*e award of the court. THE WAIKATO'S DRIFT. Copt—ln Weston, of the Waikato, when interviewed, stated that though the accident was excessively annoying, no anxiety was felt at any time during the voyage. T*he vessel was due south ol Agulhas Bank, the extreme southern end of Africa, when, she became disaTTed. When: she got into the Agulhas current she drifted steadily eastward. By means of a few sails which they were able to rig, the rate of progress was two or three knots per hour, as long as she was drifting and the wind took her its course. He directed the vessel straight for tiie .-ozet Islands, so as to get into the direct track of tue Company's steamers. There was no danger in doing so, as he knew that the north-eusterly currents prevailing there would carry them clear of the rocks. He always knew exactly where the vessel was, atiu took the sun every day. The men throughout behaved like true British sailors.

Mr Acton, the second officer, in the course of an interview, said: —"We put up three records during the trip. No boat ever dnuw about helplessly so long before asPthe Waikato. We drifted 4452 miles before being taken in tow. It was the longest direct voyage ever recorded. —c Buteshire only drifted about fifty-two days. We drifted for 102 days. No vessel has ever been towed such a long distance in mid-ocean as 2510mi_«i3. And no vessel ever coaled under such peculiar cireumstancea as we coaled the As—un. We were fifty-three days before we sigtted a vessel. a_*__o*_gh. right on their &•__-*

Mr Davie, the second engineer, said: — *'_.ne abaft broke right off about 3ft from the propeller. It was so situated we could not possibly get near it to see what damage was actually done. We have a spare shaft aboard, which had been used before, and we will use it again if the authorities think it good* enough. I think by raking out the cargo astern — c will be able to drag the s_uut out, and replace the other. The course we took when drifting was very remarkable. We crossed our own track seven times. Vessels, like the clown's pony, do everything except what they are wanted to do. When neoring the CrozeU some of us thought we might drift on to those danswrous rocks and become a wreck, but we negotiated them most wonderfully."