ILL LUCK OF MONO WAI

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 1, 3 January 1927, Page 8

ILL LUCK OF MONO WAI

DAMAGED IN HER GRAVE

SHIP'S BACK BROKEN.

wens of a breakwater and jetty at thp Gisb.orne Harbour Board's -S U not possible to ascertain exactly what has sjysfitfsars&s lost much of her usefulness. ■■ in IVm? 1*?, I 5 Pal'tic, ulariy "afortunate m that it will lurther delay the most important portion of the harbour operation! iS?HI ? k"? g,?£ Monowai was delayed until the indications were that the operations would be favoured with suitable weather and the success of the undertaking hmged on this point. It is stated that under the conditions usually prevailing at this season of the year no difficulty would have been' experienced, but the heavy north-easter y seas during the week-end were entirely unexpected/ and have resulted in very heavy loss. 'We might have gone for 25 to SO years without having such a storm," remarked the harbour engineer, Mr. R. Campbell alter the storm. "This meant that the odes were 25 or 50 to 1 in our favour, and. wo did not hesitate to take the risk As^it is, we have lost, and that is ad' that can be: said. Of course, had such weather been expected, the sinking would have been delifyed, 'for good conditions were essential to success." Despite-the particularly successful man ncr m which. the vessel was sunk she had failed to settle firmly on the bed. An examination of the bed previously ha' shown a smooth bottom of rocks, but it appears as if the .vessel went through this . and continued to settle in either papa or sand, for the stern, it is stated, actually sank a further 7ff or Bft, while the bow went down about half that distance. At .day light on Monday ioiorning Mr. Campbell again proceeded to the quarry, but it .was'impossible to make an estimate of what had occurred. That the vessel's back was broken was clear, for the bow was still standing in s. position, while the stern half was not in sight. It is believed that the after half of the vessel has turned over on its side,- but this point is not yet clear, and it may be that the portion is rocking with the heavy seas. Whatever is the actual position of the vessel it .is stated that 1 the work of build ing the jetty will be considerably "affect-, ed, but decision as to what course will bs adopted will be delayed pending full investigation. There are several alternative possibilities, it is stated, and in any cass the construction of the breakwater will have to proceed.