THE STAR OF CANADA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15110, 28 September 1912, Page 8

THE STAR OF CANADA.

CAN SHE BE REFLOATED

ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO BE MADE

BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.]

G'fSJiORXE. Friday. Arrangements having been completed, Messrs. Langlands and Company, Ltd., have taken over the Star of Canada- as she now lies 011 the Kaiti beach. The firm consider that they have reasonable hopes of success in- their attempt to float the vessel.

Mr. Langlands. in conversation with a] reporter to-day, said that they intended to start operations by testing if it- was possible to pump out the engineroom and stokehold, so as to recover the machinery and boilers, which aro valued at aoout £50.000. If they found that with tho pumps it was possible to keep the engineroom and stokehold dry, the water would be allowed to rise again while 10 anchors were being placed out- front tho vessel about 700 ft from the stem. The anchors used will be constructed on the principle oi those used in the construction of suspension bridges, and ill be sunk 10ft deep in the papa rock at low tide, 'lhe engineroom and stokehold will then be pumped dry. which mcahs flotation of two-thirds of the length of the ship. A strain of 50 tons will be taken 011 each cable, which will make the pull on the ship stand at 500 tons. As the ship now lies tho grade of the deck is l._ in 14, and the object of the wire cables is to draw the vtffel up the inclined bed that she has made until the docks are above water. All the lower hatches will be sealed, and the water will be pumped out of the upper and lower holds, thus giving an increased flotation power to the- ship. Another strain will then bo taken on the cables to bring the ship further back until the main or lower hold is brought to low tide level. The hatches will then be unsealed and the best of several wellknown methods for closing out the water that the firm have under consideration will be tried.

Mr. Langlands said that it might be necessary to put out# an additional 10 anchors, which, with the same strain on them, would make, the pull on the ship *1000 tons. The firm hope to strut operations next week.