EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO RANGATIRA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 February 1936, Page 2

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO RANGATIRA.

HUGE VOLUME OF WATER IN HOLD. PASSENGERS' LUGGAGE WELL SOAKED.

(By Telegraph —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. Inspection of the damage to the hull of the intcr-islaml steamer Rangatira which struck a submerged object off Wellington heads at 6.10 on Sunday morning wan begun early this morning by divers. Three were down at interval., throughout the day examining the extent of the holing in the vessel's plates and preparing tier for docking. No official statement of the tinderwater discoveries has yet been made by the Union Company but it is understood as soon as the divers have completed their investigations and have reported fully to the owners one will be issued. The Rangatira lies at Clyde Quay wharf in much the same position on the waterline sis when she was brought, into port. She is well down by the head, the harbour's surface being only JS inches or two feet from the hawse pipes, while at the stern approximately one-quarter of the propeller blades is showing above the sea. The Union Company's tug Terawhiti is still tied on the starboard bow [lumping periodically front the forward hold whoie there is reported to be about 30 feet of water. An engine from the central lire brigade is on the wharr clearing I lie encroaching Hood from the iirst-eiass forward dining saloon. Acting in concert with the Rangatiia "s own pumps these auxiliaries appear to be keeping the inllow fioni the pierced plates in check. The divers were working at three main points, indicating where the h'angiitira has been holed. One was about ten feet from the bow on the port side, the second further aft. on Uie same side between the foremast and the bridge and the third operating from tne ship's boat about midships on the starboard or seaward side. From the fact that the divers were separated by fairly consiueranie distances it. would appear that the damage extends from a few feet rrom trie oow to somewhere about the middle of the hull. While the divers were misy below carpenters were engaged an Lie arternoon fashioning to a wedge shape a large number of wooden plugs. Armed with sJedgc hammers the divers will drive these plugs into the many holes ripped at intervals in the ship's bottom. When the plugs are forced into the holes it is expected the pumps will be aide to get ahead of the huge volume of water inside the vessel, so lightening her sufficiently to permit tier being moved from the wharf to the lloatiug dock for repair. Concurrently with the examination of the hull the task of removing passengers' luggage and cargo from the Hooded forward hatch was being carried out. .Many tons ox sodden suit cases, postal packets, receptacles and cases of fruit were hauled out on to the wharf.

Mataroa Gets Full Force of

Cyclonic Storm

TERRIFIC BATTERING OFF COAST

AUCKLAND, Last Nigit

Unable to pick up the light on Cuvier Island on Saturday night and Sunday owing to the thick weather the Mataroa, which arrived to-day from Southampton, felt the full force of the cyclonic storm that swept the North Island and tor 20 hours was hove to oil' Hie coast in heavy seas. One sc-a that came on board stove in five windows on the port side and flooded some of the cabins.

The Niagara was also delayed by the storm but was more fortunate than the Mataroa.