Diver’s Descent In Grey River: Mishap To Dredge

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1949, Page 4

Diver’s Descent In Grey River: Mishap To Dredge

In contrast with some of the murky water in which he has had to work since making his services as a diver available to industry and shipping on the West Coast, Mr John Godfrey, of Greymouth, had relatively good conditions for work under the surface of the Grey River last evening. The river was comparatively clear and there was fair visibility for Mr Godfrey’s task underneath the Grey Harbour Board’s dredge, Mawhera.

Using the Harbour Board’s diving eouipment, W Godfrey remained under the surface for approximately one and a-half hours, carrying out urgent repairs to a hopper door on the dredge. The vessel was tied up at the main wharf, near Johnston street, and the diver’s activities were watched by a large crowd. The mishap to the dredge occurred while it was at sea yesterday afternoon, dumping spoil from the river. A nut came off the bolt holding one of the hopper door chains and the bolt in turn pulled through, making it impossible to operate the door properly. Similar mishaps have occurred previously and there was little difficulty in ascertaining the nature of the damage. The dredge was brought into port with one chain holding the hopper door closed, and was berthed at the wharf. _ The diver completed repairs, with the replacing of the bolt, in good time last evening and the dredge this morning recommenced the task of removing the shoaling from the river. Little actual dredging time was lost.