THE TOW OF THE TAKAPUNA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1179, 14 July 1911, Page 4

THE TOW OF THE TAKAPUNA.

OFEKATIOX ])ESCJ!II3ED. (By Tclcgrnpli-Pret-s Association.) Duncdin, July 13. The Corinna, witli Uio disabled Tnknpiimi in Low, passed in at the Heads at 9.35 last night, and, at 10.20 dropped anchor off Port Chalmers Wharf. .The tow, which was done at a speed of Oj to !)} knots per hour, wa.s uneventful. ■ Connected by a wire towing hawser which was supplemental hy a spring, consisting of 2!> fnlhorns of anchor-cable, bolii steamers left Wellington M'horf at '8.2(1 a.m. on Tiioday. The T.akapuna was under her own sleain, and, no doubt, helped progress lo some extent, but she was handicapjxid by Hip slate of her propcllnr, which had only one whole bindo on it, and th." l . was cracked. The other blades, as the jvsiilf. of the vessel's bumping which caused her disablement when entering Woslporl, were broken, and were only a fraction of their original dimensions The weather proved fine, light southerly winds being experienced all the way down the coasl.

The shank of the Takapuna's rudder is snapped oil' about Gin. below tho bottom of' the Irunkway, and, consequently, she, was beyond control by the usual method of steering. In order to make it servo its purpose of guiding the vessel, wives were attached above the water-line to the after part of (lie blade of the rudder. These wires were led through blocks on (he end of spars protruding from cither side of the vessel, and thence connected to the steam steering gear. This arrangement enabled tho vessel to lie steered by her wheel in the usual way.

Tho Takiipuna was berthed at the sheerlegs this morning. She has come hern for repairs, which will probably include ji now stern frame.