VESSELS COLLIDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18026, 27 February 1922, Page 8

VESSELS COLLIDE.

MAORI AND SCHOONER, NO SERIOUS DAMAGE. MISHAP NEAR LYTTELTON. [BV TBLEOJUPH.—PP.E3S ABBOOUTION.] CHRISTfcHURCH, Sunday. A collision occurred at 4.15 o'clock this morning between the ferry steamer Maori and the auxiliary schooner Zita, about 45 miles off Lyttelton Heads, fortunately without any serious damage to either vessel. The Maori was steaming aloug in clear weather and was just approaching a bank of fog when the Zita emerged from the bank right in the path of the ferry steamer. Mr. Morgan, chief officer of the Maori, was on duty at the time and he immediately went to the starboard. The Zita was under sail only and those aboard apparently thought they had not been. seen for they put the vessel to port. Before matters could be rectified the Zjta collided with the Maori, her bowsprit striking the steamer on the port side a few feet from tJi* bow, the schooner being swung by the unoact. By this time Captain Irwin was on the bridge of the Maori, and after stopping the steamer he, hailed the Zita, but was informod that all aboard were all right. However, the Maori stood by for over an hour, and Captain Johansen, of the Zita, then announced that the schooner was making no water and he would proceed on his voyage to Wellington. > Tiie only damage to the Maori was a porthole smashed and paint work scraped. It was fortunate the Zita struck the Maori instead of vice versa, otherwise the sharp bow of the ferry steamer would undoubtedly have cut into the schooner and sunk her. Saloon passengers on the port side of the lowest deck were considerably alarmed as the schooner scraped and bumped past the port holes. Many people arose and dressed but there was nothing in the nature of a panic.