LOSS OF AWAROA.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18460, 14 August 1925, Page 13

LOSS OF AWAROA.

COURT'S FINDING. (IUSTEALIAK AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION) MELBOURNE, August 13. The Court of Marine Enquiry found that the steamer Awaroa was battered by a gale ih Bass Strait, and that her master and crew tvero justified in l abandoning her. The Gsurt expressed the opinion thai the vessel at the time of her abandonment would not have remained afloat any length of tinje, and further found that the vessel was apparently seaworthy, and not improperly loaded or overloaded. The Court was unable to determine tho cause of the' leak. [The Holvman Company's small steamer Awaroa sprung a leak in a heavy gale and began to fill. The crew worked all night knee-deep in water, and jettisoned a portion of the timber cargo in an endeavour to save the vesb©l. Eventually it was decided to abandon the steamer. An attempt^was made to launch the lifeboat, but it was smashed by the wares. The cr«w, numbering 13, succeeded ih launching a second lifeboat, and aft&r being battered about for a considerable time in a rough sea they were rescued in ail exhausted condition near Cape Liptrap I by the steamer Huntingdon, which saw j the distress signals.]