A WRECK

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1929, Page 5

A WRECK

“NORWICH CITY” AT GARDNER ISLAND. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON-, Dec. 2. fl'lie Secretary of tne P. and T. Department received the following from Apia per radio: S.O.S. call leceived from GLEP Norwich City at 1.53 a.m. Signals weak, strength 2 to 3, statics fierce. Was able at 3.20 a.m. to read bis position, 4 355. 179 38w. Gardner Island in the Phoenix Group, lie advised us: “If ship holds til daylight we may make shore, but heavy sea limning.” No other stations appeared to hear his repeated calls and in response to our CvJ (all stations) calls, we were unable to raise any vessel neaier than 850 miles to him. At 4.23 a.m. we advised him we would try and get something out to him and that the utmost was being done to get relief, to wli.ch he replied, •‘Tnanks.” fl'lie signals were then weakening, probably due to daylight, and the last 0.0.5. was receive*! at 4.-10 a.m.

S.S. Trongate GKPQ, in port here, now getting up steam and will leave in about an hour’s tune for the wreck, which is about 000 miles from here. In the meantime we are calling GQ (all stations) to endeavour to get 111 touch with a nearer vessel. •

Later the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department received the following from, the Superintendent of radio at Apia: “Re S.O.S. call. Trongate left Apia about 2 p.m.: to go to assistance of Norwich City. No.'response from Norwich City throughout tnej day ; or this evening. “At 6 p.m. we got in touch with S.S. Lavington Court, who gave his noon position as 350 miles north-east of Gardner Island, and said lie could reach Gardner Island on Monday at daybreak. Passed this information to the Trongate and asked the captain to arrange with the Lavington Court as to whether lie wished him to proceed to wieck. Will auTTbe further later.”

FURTHER, PARTICULARS. (Received this day at 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 2. Badly holed and a complete wreck, the City of Norwich is ashore,at Gardner Island, 6(10 miles north of Samoa. Her S.O.S. signals were heard at Apia yesterday and .the steamer Trongate is rushing to her aid. So dangerous is tne position that the crewhad to abandon /the ship immediately: fl’he Trongate was loading at Apia on the' way from Nev r Zealand to Britain, when calls for assistance were received. WELLINGTON, Dec. 2. The following lias been received by the Secretary ot the Post and Telegraph Department: “Trongate is proceeding to the Norwich City which she experts to reach by daybreak on Tuesday. “The Lavington Court is proceeding on her voyage.” .