OUR TONGAN LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1100, 12 April 1911, Page 4

OUR TONGAN LETTER.

THE STKANDED BOVEKIC. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Nukualofa, April 3. Tho steamer Boverie, from .Sydney, en route to 'Frisco, whilst entering tho eastcm passage at Nukualofa on Wednesday morning last, piled up on the shore reel' of tho lslaria of llakala. The passage is certainly a tricky one. to negotiate. The Boverie is reported to haye bsen steaming half epeed at tho time of impact with the reef. When it was observed that the vessel had struck, the engines were immediately reversed, but with no good effect. An investigation showed that the steamer had driven into the reef for a distance of some. 30 feet, and was sunk about five feet into tho coral. The result was that the bow of the steamer became securely wedged, leaving tho afterpart of tho vessel lying in deep water. Kedges were put out aft, and hawsers were attached, and at high water stroll" efforts were made to release tho vessel from her perilous position'. The effort was useless. Two'days later, tho Knight of St. George, a steamer of the same line, on her way to Auckland and Sydney, put In an appearance.' Early this morning low lines were put aboard from the lioverie, the kedge lines were again brought info use, and the combined facilities of both vessels wore, utilised to bring tho Bovoric into deep waler. The strain was terrific, and several steel hawsers snapped during the progress of tho work. When it was perceived that no difference was made in the vessel's position, the work of towingolV was abandoned. The cargo is now being landed on the adjacent island, nnd the intention is to try and float off tho vessel at high water. It is honed that the services of divers from H'.ll.S. Encounter, supposed at present to be lying at Yavau, will be secured to make an' inspection and endeavour to release the bows of the steamer. Fortunately fine weather prevails just now, hut fears are entertained for tiie safety of the sleanier should strong weather set in from (he oast or south-east. The water in the hold forward rises and falls with Ihe tide, ami tho assumption is that i-oino of (he forward plates have been seriously damaged. So deeply and firmly wedged is the I!u----voric that it is impossible to note what the extent of the damage really is. Vavau is qnite a centre of'attraction just now, owing to parlies' of scientists having selected that island as the most suitable base to tako observations of the total eclipso of tlie sun, due to lake place at about 0.30 on tho morning of April '<$'. Already several parties havo arrived, ami tho warship Encounter is due at Vavau with an astronomical parly aboard. As accommodation is scarce, the observers will need to live under canvas during their stay. The estimates of expenditure of the Kingdom for the year 1911-12 exhibit tiie amount of to ba expended, mostly on Government works.