THE RUMOURS ABOUT THE PUKAKI.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 433, 16 February 1909, Page 7

THE RUMOURS ABOUT THE PUKAKI.

.:.: .> v- .;"■ •■. ■■■• : v ' ' :"• ■.':-■■ : .-,-'■'.■■ i : .' ■■'. ■■'■ WHAT THE'STEAMER , .?' LOG' STATES. ,- .In yesterday's issue, telegrams concerning the Union; Company's isteamers Pukaki-and Kini, were, published, and, ■at the timq,V some doubt was expressed as to the possibility of, two ..of tho. company's steamers'- being simultaneously, disabled and on the same part of the^ooast.:■ The Union Company received advico from Lyttelton at noon yesterday that tho.Kini; was due about 5 p.m., ajnd it.was hoped I-.to dispatch her for Wellington on Tuesday- evening. It .appears that the F.ukaki was the disabled.vessel, and that the. report ■about, the. Mararba having the Kini in. tow was; incorrect. ■ '. , ; ; • . '.' •".'■■.-

.The Puknki arrived in port about 7a.m. yesterday,' and the following' entry in >th"e log book-.'.was -seen by a' Dominion ■ reporter:— At 2.10 a.m. on Sunday, the engines .broke down.' Two valve spindles were broken and. other gear. bent. The. Pukaki .drifted . till 10 a.m., and then in 20 fathoms, 'with l<3o. fathoms of cable, out. The anchorage was two miles off Sail Rock, with Point Gibson bearing N. i E.,. tho 1 distance being 5J miles. .At 12.10 p.m. repairs were effected, and 'the vessel proceeded ■ under-. moderate speed towards- Wellington: •'.'■■'■ ' ■•■:■■■' Shortly after. 2 p;m. yesterday the steamier sailed for Picton and . West ' Coast ports', arriving at Pictbn at 7;15 p.ni. -.' .'■■■■

■ V MACHINERY OUT OF ORDER. ':' tUT TELEGUAPH—PRESS- ASSOCIiTION.J \ :" :'.' ChriStChurcll, February'ls. ■; A report was received in Christchurch yesterday morning from Domett ■ stating that, a -largo red funnel steamer was in.a dangerous position.about two miles to the southward of the Hurunui River, and that as she.had been firing guns or, rockets, and had not' moyej- for some hours,:it was thoughti -that-she,was , in serious trouble. The Union' Company decided, to dispatch to tho scene the. Mararoa, which arrived from, Wellington at noon, and she left at .12.60 p.m. • After tho ..Mararoa sighted :the. vessel she was looking-for,' she had td.chaso her,. as: repairs : hod;, been effected, and the unknown vessel was steaming northward. ■ When two or three, miles off the Mararoa, sounded a long shriek on her syren, whicll■ had the desired effect- of causing the runaway vessel to. stop. ..She was .recognised as-the cargo-steamer Pukaki, 'which left Lyttelton at 9.15 p.m.-oh Saturday for Wellington, Picton, and the West Coast., The Mararoa.'drew'near,.at. 4;30 p.m.; and' , the signals, indicated that the Pukaki's machinery was out of order, her slide valvo gear being damaged, but she' stated she did .not needany, .assistance: : The; damage had been 'repaired, and the Pukaki was able to continue onlier way. The Mararoa, after a fast run back/to Lyttelton, entered port at 8.30. p.m., havingigone 52 miles and back.. / . .

;.;■•-. :; T HE KiNi; ■::■..■'::;:■■ ■■-■■;; i A.Press!. Association message received from Lytteltori last night reports,, that the Kini had arrived from Groymouth. She left that port at 2a.m. on Thursday, and encountered a strong S.B. gale. Shelter, was taken in Cloudy Bay till 1 a.m. yesterday, when the weather moderated sufficiently to allow the .voyago to be resumed.. . :: : ~ \