FERRY STEAMER B N COLLISION.

Gisborne Times, Volume LVI, Issue 6322, 27 February 1922, Page 5

FERRY STEAMER B N COLLISION.

AUXILIARY SCHOONER STRIKES

MAORI

EXCITING INCIDENT ALONG THE COAST.

CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 26

A collision occurred at 4.15 a.m. between the ferry steamer Maori ancl the auxiliary schooner Zita, about 45 miles off Lyttelton Heads, fortunately without any serious damage to either vessel.

The Maori was steaming along in clear weather, and was just approaching a bank of fog, when the Zita emerged from the bank right in tlie path of the ferry steamer. Mr. Morgan, the chief officer of the Maori, was on duty at the time, and lie immediately went to starboard. The Zita was under sail oixly, and those aboard apparently thought they had not been seen, for they put the" vessel to port. Before matters could be rectified the Zita _ collided with the Maori, her bowsprite striking the steamer on the port side, a few feet from the bow, the schooner being swung by the impact. By this time Captain Irwin was on the bridge of the Maori, and after stopping the steamer hailed the Zita, but was informed that all aboard were all right. However, the Maori stood by for over an hour, and Captain Johansen, of the Zita, then announced that the schooner was making no water, and ho would proceed on his voyage to "Wellington. The only damage to the Maori was a porthole smashed and paint-work scraped. It was fortunate the Zita struck the Maori instead of vice versa, otherwise the sharp how of the ferry steamer would undoubtedly have cut into the schooner and sunk her.

Saloon passengers on the port side of the lowest deck wore considerably alarmed as the schooner scraped and bumped past the portholes. Many arose and dressed, but there was nothing in the nature of a panic.— Press Assn.