UNION COMPANY'S LOSSES

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 48, 24 February 1917, Page 6

UNION COMPANY'S LOSSES

A BIG LIST.

The Union Steam Ship Company seems to.bo having a, run of unexampled illluck, and hardly a month goes by without word being received of one or other of their vessels being in trouble. Luckily, with the exception of the Maitai, which remains hard and fast on a reef outside Raroj*>nga, the losses have mostly been fairly light. Early last year the company's Wanaka broke her tail-shaft off the Australian coast, and drifted helplessly for about six weeks. The Komata went on the rocks near Pencarrow Lighthouse, and the Corinna near Barrett's Reef, but "were refloated shortly afterwards. The Arahura sprang a leak on the East Coast, and had to make full speed for the nearest port. The Whangape and Waitomo both went on the reefs in the Fijian Group, fortunately without much damage being done to either. Then a, disastrous explosion of benzine took place on the Wairuna, whilst that vessel was at Sydney, which resulted in the deaths of six men; and about the samo time there was an explosion of acid on the Monowai at Auckland, by which a number of men were injured. Then the Flora had a breakdown to her machinery at Papeete, and the Mapourika had to be despatched post-haste to her aid. A few weeks ago the Kittawa put into Wellington with a smashed rudder. Whilst discharging cargo at Vancouver a serious fire broke out on the Waimarino, and it was only by superhuman efforts that she was saved. Other serious outbreaks occurred on the Waihemo at Melbourne and the Waikawa at Vancouver. Then the Maitai went ashore at Raotonga and became a total loss.' All these mishaps took place last year.