AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8947, 3 August 1892, Page 5

AUCKLAND HARBOUR.

REPORTED INJURY TO THE S.S.

TAINUI.

CONTRADICTION BY THE HARBOUKMASTER. At the regular meeting of the Harbour Board, held yesterday afternoon, the following correspondence wae received and read :— Auckland, N.Z., 18th July, 1892. To the Secretary Auckland Harbour Board.—Sir,— We enolose for your perusal a letter just received from Captain Ikbot. This contains an extract from letter written by Messrs. Shaw Savill and Albion Co., London, in which that firm refers to a scratch on the lower plates of the s.s. Tainui. The owners and commander of the Tainvii have come to the conclusion that the steamer scraped upon something hard during her viait to Auckland, when she was berthed at the Railway Wharf. We shall be glad to have your comments upon the eucloaure, with such report aa the harbourmaster may draw up for the information of our Londou friends.—We are, etc., L. D. Nathan & Co. (per Frank J. Sanderson). Shaw Savill and Albion Co. (Limited). Marino Superintendent's Office, Wellington, N.Z., 12th July, 1892: Messrs. L. D. Nathau and Co., agents Shaw Savill and Albion Co. (Limited), Auckland.—Dear airs, —In my letter from our London manager, dated 29th April, appears the following;— Taiuui: When this steamer was placed in dry dock traces were found of the bottom having come into contact with some hard substance, there being a line about one plate's distance from the keel on the port side, extending about 30 feet aft from the bow. and theuce in an upward direction until the rise of the floor stopped it. Cap tain Evans feels satisfied that this must have occurred at Auckland, where, he states, the berth provided is by no means a satisfactory one. You might look into this matter, and Ko into it with Captain Evans on his return ; also specially let us have your views as to the suitability of the burth where our vessels lie at Auckland, with any suggestions you may have to make on the subject. The Tainui arrived here on the 10th instant, and Captain Evans states that his reason for thinking the scratch occurred at Auckland was that his steamer only visited Wellington, Napier, and Auckland, thore being plenty of water under her bottom at the two former places, whereas there was considerable delay and difficulty in berthiug at the Auckland Railway Wharf owing to insufficient water. I will be glad if you will refer this matter to your Harbour Board, and aak them to give auy suggestions in the way desired by our manager.—Yours, etc., Edwin S. Babot. The Secretary said the Harbourmaster had perused the correspondence and furnißhed the following report :— To tho Secretary, Harbour Board, Auokland. Sir,—Having perused Captain Bubot's letter re alleged scratching of the bottom of the s.s. Tainui wheu berthing at the Railway Wharf in February last, I beg to state that there was about thirty-five (35) feet depth of water alongside the wharf when the vessel was berthed there, and thirtythree (33) feet when she left it. Moveover. from the time the Tainui was berthed until she left the wharf (two days) the vessel was not moved or disturbed in any way whatever, and from soundings recently taken, and search otherwise made, nothing has been found that would confirm the statement made, that the scratch in the vessel's bottom was made here. As regards the alleged delay and difficulty in berthing the Tainui— owing to insufficient water—this, I would respectfully submit, is a matter for the consideration of the Harbour Board, as the berthing of large deep-draught vessels, under present circumstances, depends very much on the state of the tide and the weather, causing at times more or less delay that cannot be avoided.— l. J. BimCJKSS. August 2, 1892. It was agreed, on the motion of the Chairman, to forward a copy of the Harbourmaster's report to Captain Babot.