ARRIVAL OF THE TARANAKI.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 13, Issue 1089, 5 October 1869, Page 3

ARRIVAL OF THE TARANAKI.

(From the "Independent," Oct. 2.) The s.s. Taranaki, after being submerged for upwards of thirteen months in Queen Charlotte's Sound, in from fifteen to seventeen fathoms of water, was towed into this harbor yesterday afternoon by the s.s. Lady Bird. Everybody looked anxiously for her arrival round Jerningham Point. The various ships in harbor displayed their colors, and a perfect crowd of people wended their way to see the ship, and to give her a right hearty welcome. She came round the point at 4 30 p.m., and at 5 30 p.m. the Lady Bird ran alongside the Queen's wharf. The Taranaki was warped up to the wharf shortly afterwards, and was greeted with three hearty cheers. A perfect rush then took place, and her decks were soon crowded. Amongst others, we observed the Superintendent, and the directors of the JS.Z. S.N. Company on board. They all seemed pleased to see the vessel brought safely into port again. The s.s. Wanganui and Lady Bird, with the Taranaki in tow, left Bowden's Bay, Queen Charlotte's Sound, at 9 a.m. yesterday, and cleared the Heads, Tory Channel, at 10.20 a.m. The Lady Bird was made fast to the Taranaki with two hawsers, one an eight inch Europe, and the other seven inch Manilla, the latter having been found on board the Taranaki, and not being injured by its long submersion. The Wanganui had a smaller hawser from the Lady Bird's bow, which parted when about one hour out. After about an hour's delay, the 'Wanganui contrived to make fast to the Lady Bird again, and continued to assist to tow the Taranaki until abreast of Pencavrow Lighthouse, when she cast off and steered for Wanganui. The Lady Bird then brought the Taranaki into port alone. The vessel certainly looks a perfect wreck, but nothing else could have been expected. Her lower masts and bowsprit are standing, and are perfectly sound, and some sails were used on the passage across the Straits. All her top sides are covered with barnacles, but her bottom, which had been coated with Peacock's patent paint, is quite free from them. All the machinery is uninjured, including the steam winch, which has been used for coaling, and the donkey engine for pumping the vessel during her passage across the Straits. The poop deck is mostly destroyed by the worms, but the lower decks, the cabin fittings, and all the teak work about the ship are perfectly sound. The cargo does not appear so much damaged as was at first anticipated. It will be discharged on Monday, and sold by public auction without delay. We are glad to have the opportunity of chronicling her arrival in tnis harbor before the departure of the mail. The raising of the s.s. Taranaki is a feat of which our local engineers may well be proud. It has been accomplished under the greatest difficulties, and with none but the most scant and rude mechanical appliances at command. The Taranaki was wrecked in the month of August, 1868, and settled stern foremost down an almost perpendicular bank into I7f fathoms of water. Erom this position she had been raised by means of forty-four screws supported on enormous pontoons, her head being fastened to the shore by strong cables. The rise and fall of the tide was only two feet six inches and often much less. The plan adopted appears to have been to raise the stern of the Taranaki by means of the screws, and then to get a purchase on the head ropes and pull the bows little by little up the bank. A month of patient labor has been rewarded by the return yesterday of the long submerged vessel to Wellington harbor. The names of the gentlemen who directed the proceedings are Messrs. Charles Seager and E. Thirkell, of this city, and to their enterprising ingenuity is chiefly due the success which has attended the undertaking.