ABANDONED !

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3593, 5 August 1912, Page 5

ABANDONED !

SALVAGE OPERATIONS ON THE STAR OF CANADA STOPPED. THE VESSEL OFFERED FOR SALE. THE CHANCES FOR SALVAGE. “Tenders are invited for the purchase of the Star of Canada as she now lies at Poverty Bay, with about 130 tons of bullion on board. 'Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Tenders to he addressed to the undersigned by noon ot Thursday, August 8. —Williams and Kettle, Ltd., Lloyd’s agents.” Simultaneously, the above advertisement appears this morning in tlie more important newspapers tnrougnout, the whole of the Dominion. The decision to put the stranded steamer Star of Canada, on offer to all possible purchasers in both Islands was come to by a. conference of the salvage officers (Captains Taylor and Plunket) and the local Lloyd’s re.oresentatives, held early last evening, as the result of cabled advice from London. The official announcement, as dictated to a "‘Gisborne Tunes”, representative by the salvage officers last night, put the position clearly. Tlie statement is as follows: - “Certain offers were made' for the purchase of the steamer, hut we decided to invite tenders through the press, so that all intending purchasers might have equal opportunity. "‘Meantime, we will stand by and no alterations will be made in the personnel of the staff on board.” The Propellers. The propellers, which are feet high from the level of the sea, will remain in position for the present. These propellers, Captain Taylor pointed out, are costly affairs, each blade—and th.sire are three on each shaft—being worth £3OO- In saleable value Hie propellers are thus'"worth from £9OO to £IOOO each. The position of these is such that they can be easily salved. * What Can be Salved? A pressman put the above question to the salvors last evening and was given a detailed reply. “Besides the propellers.” the salvors said, “there is bullion in the ship to the tune of 130 tons, worth from £lB to £24 a ton, or £2600. Further, there is one of the most up-to-date refrigerating machines on board the' vessel and it is entirely complete. Being placed in the shelter deck, this machinery is most get-at-ahla and easy to salve. There is, in it, a good opportunity for anyone opening freezing works. “As to the main machinery,” the salvors continued, “a good part of it can be got out, although there are certainly some heavy pieces which will require powerful lifting plant. But, as has been done before, tlie steamer’s side could be out. Boilers have frequently been taken out of steamers in this way. Tlie openings, in the boilers could be sealed up and the boilers towed into the river. By this means they could be transported to any place where boiler power is wanted. An instance is offerer] in the case of the steamer Wentwoi*th, belonging to the A.U.S.N. Company, and which was stranded on tlie coast at Bowen, North Queensland. The side of the vessel was cut open, the boilers got out, the openings blocked up and the boilers towed by another of the Company’s steamers to Brisbane, afterwards being installed in another steamer.

“Apart- from this, there is a quantity of copper, brass fittings, side scuttles, etc., all of which are valuable as copper and brass scrap. There arc 10 cargo winches, each of which are of great value, and 6 of them can be readily salved.

“Again, there are 3 patent bower anchors which can be lifted and will be a valuable asset to anyone requiring them. Wire ropes, derricks, boats, electric light fittings and a big dynamo are also items which are easily saleable.

The Teravjhlti Departs. Hie Union Company’s tug Terawhiti left last evening for Wellington direct, iully laden with salvage gear. Besides numerous small items she had the majority of the pumps’ rapes aboard. All of the pumps and most of the other salvage gear have been brought ashcrai and will be shipped to Wellington —with the exception of the big pulsometer, which goes to Aucklandsome time during the present week. The small steamer Gosford was brought into service yesterday for the purpose of bringing salvage gear ashore. The Hipi also made two trips out, each time carrying a number of people wilp had business at the wreck and bringing home the personal belongings of some of the men who have been living on the big steamer. The ship’s officers, continue to take turns at the signalling station ashore. Rumored Sales. More than one firm has been mentioned in connection with the sale of the steamer and on Saturday and yesterday one Napier firm in narticular was mentioned as being a likely purchaser. It is evident that there was something in the rumor, for one of the Company’s principals was in Gisborne and went South by yesterday’s steamer. . «

Personal. Captains Taylor and Plunket, the representatives of the London Salvage Association, will remain .on board the steamer for the present, and also the ship’s officers and'engineers. Mr Daniels, the Union Company’s salvage expert, leaves for the South, on Wednesday so liar as is known at present. Diver Smith (of the Union Company) and Messrs Hutton and Bvrno (who have been at Gisborne on salvage business) left for Wellington by the Terawhiti yesterday. While in Gisborne Captain Robertson, of tho Terawhiti, made a number of friends, and his crew generally earned tho reputation of being an amiable lot.