STEAMER DISABLED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 8

STEAMER DISABLED.

MISHAP TO CLANSMAN. J

PASSENGERS DISEMBARKED,

VESSEL TOWED TO AUCKLAND.

SERVICE NOW ABANDONED.

Through a fracture of the tail-shaft, the Northern Steamship Company's steamer Clansman was disabled off Bird Rock, Bay of Islands, on Friday evening while bound to Auckland from Russell. Her passengers were taken back to Russell by launch, and the Clansman was picked up and towed to Auckland by the tug Lyttelton, arriving early yesterday morning. The mishap occurred at 10.20 p.m.. Fortunately it did not involve the loss of the propeller, and the sea was calm. Captain W. Bark lost no time in communicating with Auckland by wireless and' also sent a message to the lightmouse at Cape Brett by Morse lamp. A launch was despatched from Russell and took oil the passengers, 30 in number, who afterwards caught the express at Opua for Auckland. Tug's Uneventful Tow.

The Kauri Timber Company's paddle tug Lyttelton, which was lying at Whangaroa, was summoned to aid the disabled vessel. She left promptly and at 6 a.m. picked up the Clansman, which had drifted some distance seaward but was in no danger. Her pumps had been set to work, but owing to the location of the fracture the leakage was not serious. The Lyttelton took her in tow and, averaging four knots, brought her into Auckland at seven o'clock yesterday morning. The tow was uneventful, sea remaining calm, with little wind. It was somewhat remarkable tlhat a steamer as old as the Clansman—she was built at Glasgow in 1884—should have ' been assisted in this way by a vessel of still greater age. The Lyttelton was launched as far back as 1878 at Birkenhead, and is still doing excellent service in towing rafts of kauri logs to Auckland from various- points on the coast. The Clansman, which was built for the Northern Steamship Company, is of 635 tons gross, and in her long career has carried many thousands of passengers to and from the port of Auckland. End oI a Long Career.

The accident has precipitated her withdrawal from the northern run, aii, it was intended to abandon the passenger fiervico to Northern ports in about two weeks. The Clansman will be replaced by motor vessels which will run a regular cargo service to the ports' where the steamer called, lho Waka will be the first vessel in the new serrice, and she is to leave Auckland to-morrow.

The abandonment of the Clansman's run is due to the extension of the railway and to the improvement of roads, which have diverted passenger traffic from sea to land.. Improved rail and motor transport in New Zealand has been responsible for the cessation of 10 coastal passenger services and the withdrawal of 18 sleamWs. The northern service is. the fourth that has been given up by the Northern Company within the last five yeiiini. ■ In September, 1926, the Clansman was. withdrawn from the Auckland-Onerahi siervica and in March, 1929, the Tauranga steamer ceased to run. Both services had been maintained for over 30 years. Withdrawal of Ngapuhi.

Last August -when (he Ngapuhi was withdrawn from the Onehunga-New Plymouth run the two ports were without a passenger service for the first time in 55 years, the Northern Company having maintained. a steamer in the run for 40 years.

With the withdrawal of the Clansman the Northern Company's passenger services are practically confined to ports in the Hauraki Gulf. The Claymore's service to Whangarei is the longest run. The company's once large fleet of passenger steamers is gradually being replaced by motor vessels, which are more suitable for the local coastal trade when passengers are not carried. -