DAMAGED WAHINE

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

DAMAGED WAHINE

Diver Examines Vessel Below Waterline LITTLE INJURY THERE By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 7. All going well, it is possible that the floating dock will be available to accommodate the damaged inter-island express steamer Wahine by about the end of this week or early in the following week. No official information to this effect was available to-day from the Union Steam Ship Co., which, it was stated in response to an inquiry, is not yet in a position to make any definite announcement in this connection.

The extent of the damage to the Wahine above the waterline is only too apparent. Part of the stem is missing and there is a gaping, jagged hole on either side of the bow through which a good view of the other side of the harbour can be had. The steel plates have been torn and crumpled until the tops of some of them resemble heavy corrugated sheets. A diver went down yesterday to make an examination of the hull below the waterline, which, with the exception of the bow’ rudder, as far as could be ascertained, is not thought to have been damaged to any marked extent. The customary inquiry is to be conducted into the mishap by the Superintendent of Mercantile Marine. This will be held at the first suitable opportunity, which may be on Monday. Whether a magisterial inquiry will be held later will depend on the evidence tendered at the preliminary inquiry and what view is taken by the authorities of the evidence.