MARAROA'S MISHAP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1505, 30 July 1912, Page 5

MARAROA'S MISHAP.

I FLAW FOUND IN THRUST SHAFT. (By Telcjraph.—Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, July 29. Only on three occasions during the past eight years Ims anything occurred to cause Hie abandonment of« a trip in tlie Lyttelton-AVi'lliiinlon ferry service, and, strangely enough, it, has'happened : each tim<v in connection with the Mara- ! r'oa. This morning, when the engineers ! of tho Msiraron were making their customary inspection and overhaul of (he machinery, they discovered a bad flaw in tho thrust shalt. This shaft is just , alnft of the engines, anil is the portion which takes the whole weight of the ship which is thrown on it by the thrust of the vessel's screw. It. is a somewhat romnrfcnWo fact that it has been a flaw in the thrust shaft and a break in the fhirust block shaft that, caused the two previous interruptions in tho ferry service. When tho flnw in tho now thrust shaft was found, Mr. Carman, inspector ,, of machinery, went to Lyttelton to make an inspection. He decided that It would not bo advisable to nllow the Mnraroa to go to sea, as the flaw might develop at any time- into a serious break, and tho Union Company therefore decided to cancel the proposed trip. PnssensDTC from the south were, of course considerably surprised .to learn from notices posted at Christchurch Railway Station that the Mnraroa was not leaving for Wellington to-night, and, as thore. was no steamer for tho north, they had to remain in Christchnrcli for the night. An the Mararoa is about duo for her annual survey and overhaul, tho Union Company has decided to send her.to Port Chalmers at once. A temporary coupling will bo placed on tho thrust, shaft to onstlro the safety of the trip south, and the steamer will leave Lyltellon to-morrow for Port Chalmers. She will be laid up there, and a new thrust shaft nnd a new thrust block (to Toplace tho one which was temporarily repaired nftnr its breakage a few months ngo) will bo forged, and fitted into tho vessel; No cnuso can bo assigned for tho flaw found in tho thrust shaft beyond tho fact that tho heavy "trying" of the engines during the vory'bad weather of tho last threo weeks may have found tho weak spot.