FLOATING OF THE PENGUIN.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 120, 19 November 1881, Page 2

FLOATING OF THE PENGUIN.

ARRIVAL IN WELLINGTON. STATEMENT OP THE CAPTAIN. The news of the safety of the Penguin will be received with general satisfaction. It will be seen from the fo'lowing telegrams that she got off last evening without apparently having sustained any damage. The Penguin arrived in harbour at about half-past S) this morniug, and alter landing her passengers and a portion of her cargo, proceeded at once to the Patent Slip, in order that it might be ascertained what damage, if any, she had sustained. Captain Malcolm states thathe left Nelson at 5 p.m. on Thursday for Wellington, via Picton. On approaching the French Pass, the night was very dark, rendering it very difficult to pick up the beacon, and when he did so, he found he was to the northward of it, and the only chance he had was to take the middle channel, which he missed by aoout ten feet. He did not deem it advisable to reverso the engines, because, by doing so, the vessel would have gone broadside on to the reef. The vessel struck at 8.25 p.m., and remained there until the evening of the 18th, at 6 o'clock, when she floated off, and, after ascertaining that no damage had been done, he proceeded to Wellington, via Picton, arriving here, as already stated, at 9.30 this morning. At the time of the accident, Mr. Poppens, the chief officer, was in charge, Captain Malcolm being in his cabin. Captain Malcolm, on being called, appears to have recognised his position at a glance, and told the passengers there was not the slightest apprehension for any danger. Those on board, we are informed, remained perfectly calm, and passed the time by fishing until the steamer floated off. An enquiry into the circumstances connected with the occurrence will be held bofore Mr. Hardcastle at 2 o'clock on Monday atternoon. The steamer was hauled up on the Slip this morning, and on an examination being mads not the slightest trace of damage was observable. The paint was not even scratched. It is evident therefore that the steamer must have got on a soft bank, and not on a reef as reported. After being on the slip for about half an hoar, she was launched and steamed round again to the Queen's Wharf.