HARBOR COLLISION

Evening Star, Issue 17637, 16 April 1921, Page 8

HARBOR COLLISION

PILOT LAUNCH AND WESTRALIA, FORMER TOWED TO PORT. A collision occurred in tho Victoria channel this morning between the Otago Harbor Board’s old pilot launch and the Huddart-I'ark-er steamer Wcstralia. It is believed that tho launch, which was subsequently towed to Port Chalmers, is considerably damaged. Tho Wcstralia loft her berth at the Birch street wharf at 10/a.m., outward bound for Bluff and Melbourne. About half an hour afterwards, below' Ravensbourne, tho launch, which was coming up tho channel to Dunedin, fouled tho bows, of tho Wostralia. Tho steamer was _ sapped, and as tho launch was evidently sinking a lino was made fast from her bow and stem to the steamer. People on tho foreshore at Bavonsbourno noticed that tho launch had a decided list, and wav lying hard against tho Westralia’s bows. A waterman, with his oil launch, on hoari ig of the mishap, proceeded to tho scene, and after standing by for some time, and securing any loose fittings floating about, returned to Dunedin. Tho point of the collision was off Black Jack Point After the launch had been secured to the Wcstraiia tho latter steamed slowly down tho channel, and after the damaged boat had bom taken in tow by tho tug Plucky, continued her voyage. The launch, which was in charge of a Mr M'Kcnzie, was used as tho pilot boat for many years. Sho is now in tho service of tho Harbor Board’s engineering department. Fbe was badly damaged, and now lies awash alongside one of the punts at Port Chalmers. After thj collision occurred Mr MTCo.nzio was assisted on board the Westralia, and subsequently landed, before tho vessel loft tho harbor. Tho Wcstraiia suffered no damage.