DUMPING OF COAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 30, 4 August 1939, Page 11

DUMPING OF COAL

STRANDED STEABiER

RESULTS OF SOUNDINGS

Another start was to be made today or tomorrow to dump the remainder of the 3000 tons of coal in the Port Bowen, according to an offiqial of the Port Line's Wellington office. The coal will not be saved but will be thrown into the sea. Sleeping accommodation is being fitted up in the Port Bowen for the waterside workers who will be engaged in the work.

The discharging of the cargo will not be commenced until the coal has been jettisoned. It is not likely that any cargo will be put ashore for four or five days yet. In the meantime the Wanganui City Council staff is making . further improvements to the road leading to the beach opposite the ship so that it will stand up to heavy motorlorry traffic. It is reported from Wanganui that about 400 tons of coal from the Port Bowen was dumped by watersiders when the vessel was further out on a sandbank, but when the weather became too rough operations were suspended. A quantity of this coal is now coming ashore between the south mole and the Wanganui airport. Wanganui residents are gathering it for household purposes. Further salvage gear was taken out to the Port Bowen yesterday by means of a line to the shore.

It is understood that the soundings taken around the ship by the Wanganui Harbourmaster (Captain F. G. Taylor) on Wednesday revealed a good depth of water on the starboard side.

The question of building a platform from the shoi;e to the Poit Bowen is being considered by the Port Line. This would expedite the work of unloading the cargo, which would otherwise have to be hauled ashore in

slings.