THE RANGATIRA

Northern Advocate, 4 February 1936, Page 4

THE RANGATIRA

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

EFFORTS TO STOP LEAKS.

DOCKING PREPARATIONS.

By Telegraph.—Press Association WELLINGTON, Monday,

An inspection of the damage to the hull of the inter-island steamer Rangatira, which struck a submerged object off Wellington Heads at 6.10 a.m. on Sunday, was begun early this morning by divers, three of whom were down at intervals throughout the day examining the extent of the holing in the vessel’s plates and preparing her for docking. No official statement of the underwater discoveries has yet been made by the Union Company, but it is understood that, as soon as the divers have completed their investigations and have reported fully to the owners, one will be issued.

The Rangatira lies ati Clyde Quay wharf in much the same position on the waterline as when she was brought into port. She is well down by the head, the hawse pipes being only 18in, or two feet from the water level, and at the stern approximately one-quarter of the propeller blades is showing above the,sea.

There is evidence that the damage to the steamer extends from a few feet from the bow to somewhere about the middle of the hull. Carpenters Assist Divers.

While the divers were busy below, carpenters were engaged all the afternoon in fashioning to wedge-shape a large number of wooden plugs. With sledge 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 able to get ahead of the huge volume of 'water inside the vessel, so lightening her sufficiently to permit of her being removed from the wharf to the -f&aTlng dock for repair. Concurrently with the examination of the hull, the task of removing the passengers’ luggage and the cargo from the flooded forward hold was carried out. Many tons of sodden suitcases, postal parcels receptacles, and cases of fruit were hauled out on the wharf. Malls Safe. The Post Office reports that none of the Rangatira’s mails became we£ They were carried aft and were never . threatened. Mr J. W. Matthewson, general manager of the Union Company, said: “It is evident that the damage to the Rangatira is fairly extensive. After examination an attempt will be made to clear the forward part of the water, ready for docking.” CAPTAIN EULOGISED SHIP BROUGHT TO SAFETY. CREDITABLE ACHIEVEMENT. PASSENGERS’ STORIES. [Per Press Association. — Copyright .J WELLINGTON, Monday. It is considered in shipping circles that the fact that the Rangatira was brought safely to a berth reflects great credit on the master, Captain W. D. Cameron, and those associated with him. The control of a big ship moving stern-foremost in a heavy following sea, with her screws partially out of the water and her bow well down, . is no simple matter. ( Accounts given by some of the pas- , sengers and members of the ship’s ( complement agree that before the mis-

hap, the trip could not be called a rough one in spite of a brisk southerly wind that raked the decks from stern to bow all the way from Lyttelton. One steward said: “We felt the shock at ten past six while serving tea to the second class passengers. There were three distinct bumps, enough to wake

;he people and make them curious as

to what happened, but not enough to alarm them. The swell thenaseemed to lift her off the obstructic||p| Our orders were to let the passenaSjknow we had hit something, to telftfhera to

put on their lifebelts, and -to keep them calm.

Absence of Panic,

“The last part of our task was not a difficult one, as there was nothing in the nature of a panic, though most of the people were alarmed at the possibility of having io abandon the ship. Breakfast was made available for the passengers, but hardly any of them wanted it and were content with cups of tea and slices of bread and butter.”

After going astern the Rangatira was for a while broadside on to heavy seas which continually swept the decks. Still astern, she swung in toward Pencarrow, apparently to get her bearings, and after some more manoeuvring, started for the harbour, still stern first.

A passenger’s Account.

A passenger said:—“lt was daylight, and that reassured the people a lot. We did not see land, but we knew we could not be far off, and that also acted as a cheerful tonic. But the most helpful of all, as far as I was concerned, at any rate, was the fact that the electric light did not fail. I thought j if the lights were still burning, there could not be much wrong with the ship.

“It was lucky the damage, whatever it was, was no worse, for in the sea running in the Strait, not half the lifeboats would have got away. Had it been necessary to leave the ship, it would have been absolutely impossible to launch the boats on the windward