AN UNLUCKY VESSEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15701, 31 August 1914, Page 4

AN UNLUCKY VESSEL.

PREVIOUS MISHAPS.

ACCIDENT AT AUCKLAND.

The Kaipara has been an unfortunate vessel. She has had more than one previous mishap, but tho only one of any serious character was that which happened at, Auckland four or five years ago, and which is well remembered.

It was on the afternoon of Friday, January 14, 1910, that slip mot with a serious" incident when leaving Auckland for London. She was the first steamer to leave the port for London direct fully loaded with a valuable cargo of New Zealand product?. It was low water when the vessel left the King's Wharf, and alio proceeded down the harbour with a heavy list to starboard, which produced much comment amongst shipping generally. She was drawing 26ft lOin of water, and proceeded out" of port at the usual speed. All went well with her until she roii'ldol the North Head and entered Rangitnto Channel. The steamer went ahead almost or right in the centre of the fairway, but had not gone far when she struck on a patch of rock as she was steaming between 1 the two luminous buoys, The impact was i e. severe one, and the ship listed over ' further to starboard, and those un board I thought the vessel was going to capsize. The Kaijiara gradually settled down by I the head, and the foreliolds were soon full )of water. After a greater portion of her ' cargo bail been ligliteied and jettisoned, I the Union Company's tug Terawhiti, which | had been brought from Wellington, and ] the Harbour Hoard's tugs pumped out the I water. The tedious work occupied several I days, but the vessel was eventually re ! floated, and floated into Calliope Dock, i where she was temporarily repaired. The I steamer was. badly damaged, a great hi.'. I .' about thirty feet long being torn on the J port side forward. The work of repairing j the vessel occupied several weeks. Most

of her cargo was so badlv ( h^"" ,, ''*'" ,, * ,f ' overboard. a *?.« J-Kro^ The Kaipara eventually m rr ;; " and Die vessel again figured Verv £ .S at Auckland 'duringVitffijSSl}' ing of November 19. mvi „: J?f hi «* this port 9500 lons of gene fl '» was one of the largest cars,' i "hick Auckland from I m CV^H The strike was tl-n in full*.J? «*4 company w.tl, , largo oversea steamers, ,] IC Kai • « <% anchor in the stream. ()„ '• a.% b| of November 28. she tt - as bcrtLJ tstni »» Km,- . Wharf, and the work of ,if I* 1 *• her cargo proceeded win, \."fSbj i-CMfully completed l ier dU& ,„» Kaipara sailed on December J% ' ft, lingtou, where the balance of 7 * Vf >' was landed. She did not visit 1> again. She. arrived at Dunod ; A 23 of this year from Lmdoi, ' Ma ?