CROSSING THE BAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1922, Page 2

CROSSING THE BAR.

KARORI BUMPS TWICE.

A little excitement was afforded in the vicinity of the bar yesterday afternoon, when the s.s. Karori, 1194 twis, loaded with coal and timber for Lyttelton and Miramar, touched bottom twice while crossing the bar. No damage was done, however, and the vessel continued her voyage. The Harbourmaster (Captain F. W. Cox) questioned by a “Star” reporter this morning stated that the sailing ship Wanganui bound for Sydney, left the wharf at 3.15 p.m., andAvas towed about three miles to sea by the tug Westland.

The tug then returned and took the Karori in tow, leaving the wharf at 4.45 p.m. The bar was sounded after the Wanganui went out, and the depth of water was 19 feet 3 inches. The Karori was drawing 16 feet for’ard and 17 feet 2 inches aft, giving a margin of over two feet of water. The captain of the Karori and Captain Cox decided that with the tug’s assistance the crossing could be accomplished. Everything went well until the bar was reached, but when the Karori was on the bar, a. couple of seas much above the average struck the vessel, and she bumped with moderate force, but did not lose weigh. Sho bumped again less heavily after the second sea. No extra strain was put on the tow rope. The Karori kept a proper course and never lost weigh. Captain Cox stated that no matter how fine the weather may be exceptional swells may be met with on the bar, which it is impossible to foresee.

Yesterday and to-day, he said were dead neap tides. Qwing to the fine weather during the last four or five weeks there has been litfTe water in the river. Consequently the bar has been silting up. The last “scour” occurred on April 29, when there was a moderate rim of five knots in the river, giving a depth on tho bar of over 25 feet of water.

Regarding th© s.s. Waipori, 1919 tons, which was expected to get away this afternoon with a ful load of timber for Australia, Captain Cox stated that he did not think the. vessel would get away before Wednesday morning. To-night, to-morrow morning and tomorrow night, he said, the tide wukl be full after daylight, and th©authorities did not care to use the the dark. Wednesday morning was the first daylight tide, and the Waipori. would probably be towed out then.

The Waipori will take about one million feet of timber away. The original quantity for shipment Has been reduced, and the final load will depend upon the condition of the bar on Wednesday morning.