THE STAR OF CANADA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue LXVIII, 13 July 1912, Page 5

THE STAR OF CANADA.

JETTISONING THE GRAIN. BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION

GISBORNE, July 12

Attempts that are being made to refloat the Star of Canada off the rocks on Kaiti beach are largely dependent on the weather, and it is hoped that the heavy southerly seas to-day running at Cape Campbell and Cape Palliser will not reach Gisborne.

It is now nearly three weeks since the liner went ashore, and as she lies at present she presents a sorry sight, or, as an official remarked to-day, "She looks very sick." The steamer continues to plough into the papa rock at the bows, and her head is now submerged at low tide, whilst at the stern she is only about nine feet nine inches deep, the water having lifted it over 2ft. since last Saturday.

Good progress is being made with the discharging of grain from No. 3 hold. The pumping venture was not altogether successful, so the work is nowbeing carried out with manual labor. A fairly strong smell is arising from the hold consequent upon the stirring of the grain, which has been soaked with water, and has commenced to ferment. Hie 'tween deck space has been pretty well cleared out.

One of the large centrifugal pumps is kept going to cope with the water as the cargo of grain is reduced, and the one pump is fulfilling the purpose successfully. There is the danger of the pump becoming blocked, but to keen the intake clear Divers Lloyd and Smith are at work. The loose grain is being slung to the top deck in baskets, and deposited orerlioard, whilst the broken sacks are likewise landed on the deck where TPH!i are waiting to slit the bao- s with knives and then jettison their contents.

Diver F. AY. Walters arrived by the V ictona last night, and made a descent ti-is afternoon. Diver Walters was employed on the Kainara when she struck the uncharted rock at Auckland last year.