"TO SAVE LIFE"

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 148, 24 June 1914, Page 8

"TO SAVE LIFE"

STATEMENT BY THE CAPTAIN. WESTPORT, This Day. Captain Ruxton and other members of the crew came ashore at low tide. The vessel is hard and fast on a level, sandy bottom. Captain Ruxton reports that a westerly set put the steamer on the wall. The -water made in Nos. 1 and 2 holds, and in the engine-room. She was rapidly filling and in danger of sinking, and to save life he beached her. Very little water was taken over the side. The vessel settled in the sand and lay steadily. Tho weather at the time of the mishap was a fresh westerly breeze, with rain, and there was a moderate s,well on the bar. As no survey of the Kauri has yet been made, the captain and chief engineer can give no. information as to the damage to the steamer. All hands landed safely ' through tho surf at 4 o'clock this morning. Tho vessel lies bow on to the sea. WEATHER ON THE COAST The local office of the Union Company was advised this morning that the weather on the West °oast was still unfavourable. There was too much sea on the bar to enable the Kaiapoi to clear Westport yesterday,- but it was hoped to get her out at 10 o'clock this morning. Greymouth advised that there was a, moderate fresh in the Viver, with a heavy sea on the bar. (There were no movements to-day. TERAWHITI PROCEEDS TO WESTPORT Arrangements were made this morning for the Teiawhiti, the Union Company's powerful tug, to proceed at once to Westport to take part in salvage operations. Captain Stbtt, local marine superintendent, and Mr. Birkett, salvage expert, will be aboard the Terawhiti. This morning the vessel was taken round to the patent slip, where preparations for departure were made, and the necessary gear, including a quantity of the material that was used in floating tho Indrabarah, was put aboard. The Terawhiti will be in charge of Captain Watson. COMPARATIVELY NEW BOAT The Kauri is by no means i t n old boat, • having been built in Hartlepool in 1905 by Messrs. Fin-ness, Withy, and Co. for Messrs. J. and W. Harrison. She is classed 100 Al at Lloyd's, and has the following dimensions T Length 325 feet, bread 47 feet, depth 22.3 feet. The Union Company purchased tho Kauri after the loss of the Kotuku, a much smaller vessel, which was wrecked at Greymouth on 17th May, 1912. The vessel was originally named the Harmony, and left Bristol for Dunedin on 18th June, 1912. En route the Kauri called at Newcastle for a load of hardwood and coal, and arrived at headquarters of the Union Company on 19th September, 1912. She is a large cargocarrier of 2833 tons register, and had a deadweight carrying capacity of 5050 tons. The Kauri is nearly the same size as the Whangape, and was considered a notable addition to the Union Company's fleet. In appearance- the vessel is bluff-bowed, with an almost perpendicular funnel amidships, and well decks foro and aft. Captain G. N. Iluxton lias with him tho following officers :— First, Mr. W. Cossentine; second, Mr. I). O'Hara; and third, Mr. J. Seatoun ; chief engineer, Mr. A. C. M 'Master; second, Mr. George Luke; third, Mr. T. B. lUrtter. Mr. Luke is the third son of tho Mayor of Wellington.