SHIPPING DISASTERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 104, 29 October 1909, Page 7

SHIPPING DISASTERS.

WRECK OF THE HESTIA. TWO BOATS WASHED ASHORE. FOUR BODIES FOUND. By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright. (Received October 29, 8.35 a.m.) OTTAWA, 28th October. Two boats belonging to the steamer Hestia, .which was wrecked in the Bay of Fundy, have been washed ashore. Four bodies were found in the boats, making eighteen lives known to have been lost. Thirty-four other persons were in the boats when they left the wreck. ' Their rescue is considered hopeless. ROUMANIAN VESSEL SUNK. CREW DROWNED. (Received October 29, 8.35 a.m.) BUDAPEST, 28th October. The Russian mail steamer Russo collided with a Roumanian vessel near Galatz, on the Danube. The Roumanian boat sank, the crew, I "numbering twenty-one all tcld, being drowDed. STEAMER OTAKI. ONE OF THE HOLDS ON FIRE, j LONDON, 28th October. The New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Otaki, 7420 tons, Captain Hemming, which left Wellington on 7th September, arrived in the Thames yesterday with No. 3 hold, containing wheat, on fire. The fire is now well under control. The Otaki is one of the latest additions to the fleet of the New Zealand Shipping Company, having been built last year by Messrs W. Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton. She is a cargocarrier only, and as such is an excellent type of vessel. She is a steel triple-screw steamer of 6922 tons gross and 4611 tons net register, and has the distinction of being the first vessel to be fitted with a combination of reciprocating and turbine engines. Such conspicuous success has attended the experiment, that the principle is being widely adopted in England, and it is understood that the White Star leviathans Olympic and Titanic, of 45,000 tons each, are being fitted with the "combination" engines as a result of the Otaki experiment. When the Otaki sailed from Wellington on the 6th September last, she carried a large miscellaneous cargo of wool, sheepskins, frozen meat, grain, rabbits, tallow, copra, etc. The grain, which was being carried in No. 3 hold, was shipped chiefly at Southern ports, and comprised the following : — From Port Chalmers — 562 sacks wheat, 10,418 sacks oats, 1491 sacks grass seed, and 22 sacks peas. From Timaru— l447 sacks barley and 478 sacks wheat; from 81uff— 21,839 sacks oats. The Otaki is commanded by Captain L. G. Silba. She has now completed only her second voyage from New Zealand to London. WHAKATANE COLLISION. HE^VY CLAIMS FOR SALVAGE. CASES IN THE KING'S BENCH. LONDON, 28th October. In connection with the collision of the New Zealand Shipping Company's steamer Whakatane with the French steamer Circe on 4th July, off Dungeness, the former steamer being towed to Dover in a badly damaged state, heavy claims have been made against the company for salvage. Eight plaintiffs made claims, the aggregate amount being £140,000. The hearing of the cases has now concluded in the King's Bench Division, Mr. Justice Bigham awarding the plaintiffs £9000. SUPPOSED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION. IN A STEAMER'S BUNKERS. . (Received October 29, 10.20 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Three outbreaks of fire occurred in the coal-bunkers of the steamer Itonus, belonging to the Currie Proprietary, of Melbourne. They are supposed to be due to spontaneous combustion. The damage is not serious. T^ie Itonus is a vessel of 6538 tone gross register, which has just arrived at Sydney. She is commanded by Captain Sufferin. r