RONA SAILS FOR FIJI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18234, 30 October 1922, Page 6

RONA SAILS FOR FIJI.

FOUR MONTHS IN PORT. 3 REPAIRS AFTER ACCIDENT; The Colonial Sugar Company's steamer Bona sailed en Saturday afternoon fey Fiji to load a cargo of caw sugar to Auckland, . ,- ;. The vessel had been four mouths it Auckland undergoing repairs to her hull» which was extensively damaged, when sm • struck Flat Rock on June 26 while efl route to Auckland from Fiji with » cargo of raw sugar and molasses. After the accident the Bona was kept with *i«fy stern resting on the rock by the engine* continuously sieaming ahead. Salvag* . operations occupied 2£ days, 1600 tons sugar being lightered and brought to Auckland and 600 tons of molasses from, the vessel's topsides tanks pumped overboard, f ;-., When sufficiently lightened the Ron* «* towed off the rock and came to Auckland under her own steam. At Chelsea the remainder oi her cargo was discharged awl she was floated into the Calliope lAwkon July 7 for repairs. . V-; The contract for the work was eiveO , to Messrs. Clare and Warner, of An* ! land, and Stephenson and Cook, of: Pon Chalmers, at an approximate price $ £50,000. The work occupied about 3J months, the vessel being undecked o» . October 21 and berthed at tbn Western v Wharf to refit. The work of wpairing>% Rona is the largest job underUkon Zealand, and is reported to be a credit w the contractors. The repairs havena** 0 all the teste required by Lloyd's xn& wMB k-.-the vessel steamed out of port on Sattuv day, it "is understood, she was as strong* vessel- as before the accident. - '