DRAMATIC INCIDENT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 148, 8 June 1936, Page 7

DRAMATIC INCIDENT

Steamer Kent Drifting To Treacherous Rocks ENGINE STARTED IN TIME (By Telegraph—Press Association,) AUCKLAND, June 8. With her engine stopped and a strong lee mind drifting her at two and a-hal” knots towards the Mbenga reef in the Kandavu passage, near Suva, tha Federal line steamer Kent narrowly escaped disaster on Thursday last. The vessel was within six miles of treacherous rocks when she again got under sufficient power to carry her to safety. News of the dramatic incident was brought to Auckland by the Aorangi, which when at Suva received an SOS und was preparing to rush to the rescue and some mooring ropes had been cast off when wo'd wa» received that assistauce was no longer required. The first appeal was received at the Suva radio station and ’he small Burns Philp steamer Mulake was already proceeding to the rescue when the reassuring message was received. Ou tho Aorangi the drama increased because many passengers were ashore. Captain Hill suspended cargo operations immediately, and tho sight of the Aorangi making hurried preparations to put to sea caused a commotion ashore. Many passengers were away on excursions. The Aorangi's wireless maintained direct contact for two hours with the Kent, which was two and ahalf hours’ steam from Suva outward bound from Port Chalmers in eonliuualion of her voyage from Louden.