TEST OF WANGANELLA REPAIRS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25547, 15 July 1948, Page 3

TEST OF WANGANELLA REPAIRS

FLOTATION IN SEPTEMBER (P.A.)’ WELLINGTON, July 14. Although the exact date of the Wanganella’s return to the Tasman service was not definitely known, a flotation test of the repairs would be made in September, said the New Zealand manager of the Huddart Parker Line (Mr N. D. McLean) yesterday. For the test the Wellington floating dock would be lowered and the ship, still on the dock, would enter the water for inspection. Once the ship had been found seaworthy little time would be lost m returning her to service, said Mr McLean. A crew of 150 men would have to be brought from Australia, and this was a problem as that was practically a shipload. It might be necessary to return the Wanganella to Sydney before she entered the Tasman passenger run. Wanganella Claims Four claims against the Huddart Parker Company, based on the salvage of the Wanganella. are set down for hearing on September 28 in the Supreme Court at Wellington in Admiralty jurisdiction. The hearing is likely to last about three weeks. The parties are the Wellington Harboqr Board, the Wanganui Harbour Board, and the Union Steam Ship Company as owners of various tugs and with the ship' s complement of the tugs, and the Eastbourne Borough Council and the crew of the ferry steamer Cobar, which brought passengers and luggage ashore while the Wanganella was fast on Barrett’s Reef.