SEARCH FOR UNCHARTED ROCK

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 86, 10 January 1928, Page 8

SEARCH FOR UNCHARTED ROCK

SEQUEL TO MISHAP TO STEAMER EXTENSIVE SURVEY TO BE MADE Dominion Special Service. Auckland, January 9. An extensive search for the uncharted rock north of Gisborne, which the steamer Northumberland is believed to have struck last January, is to be made next month by the minesweeper, Wakakura, and sloops, Laburnum and Veronica. The Northumberland struck a submerged object between Tuahine Point and Gable end foreland while travelling'from Auckland to' Napier. The liner was steaming at 13 knots when those on board felt a heavy shock and the ship was stopped. She was found to ba making water fast and a course was set for Gisborne at full speed. Temporary repairs were effected at Gisborne, and the Northumberland then came to Auckland, where she went into dock. Repairs in Calliope Dock took eleven weeks to complete, the total cost being in the vicinity of £B,OOO. » Shortly after the mishap the Government steamer, Tutanekai carried out a protracted survey in the vicinity of the spot where the Northumberland is supposed to have.struck the submerged rock. The Tutanekai searched for five days over an area of two square miles between Ariel Reef to the seaward and Tatapouri Point on the mainland. She failed to locate any rock but found level bottom of papa rock, the depth of water varying from 27 to 38 fathoms. . An area of six square miles in the same vicinity is now to be surveyed minutely by’the minesweeper and the two sloops. One vessel will act as a guide and the other two . will operate special deep-sea trawls. It is not h llo '' n definitely when the survey will be commenced. The warships now’ at the naval base Devonport, will shortly commence their manoeuvres for the present year. The official itinerary‘has not yet been prepared. It is expected, however, that about a fortnight will be spent in Hauraki Gulf in the New Year so that the survey will not be carried out until next month.