FLOATING DOCK ARRIVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21067, 29 December 1931, Page 8

FLOATING DOCK ARRIVES

END OF RECORD TOW.

ENGLAND TO WELLINGTON.

FINE WORK BY DUTCH TUGS. JOURNEY WITHOUT MISHAP. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Attended to the last by two Dutch tugs that had towed it halfway round the world, Wellington's jubilee floating dock came slowly down the harbour and was anchored near its future berthing place just after seven o'clock this evening, It passed through the harbour entrance in the late afternoon, sunshine and a calm sea making perfect conditions for the end of the longest tow that has ever been made. From Wailsend-on-Tyne to Peiicarrow Heads the dock had been taken slowly and with infinite care by 'its fwo convoys a record distance oi 13,627 miles. The dock and its tugs were met by the Harbour Board tug Toia some miles from the harbour entrance, and the harbourmaster, Captain J. Spence, went on board the leading tug, the Zwarte Zee, to act as pilot. The Toia then took up a position in front of the tugs. Dock Seen at Close Quarters.

Meanwhile the smaller tup; Natone had left Wellington with members of the Harbour Board and other guests. It steamed straight out of the entrance and bore over to the west where the dock nnd the other tugs were approaching. Tho Natone circled the dock and lugs and those on board her, apart from passengers in aeroplanes, were the first to see the dock at close quarters. Tho Government steamer Janie Seddon, carrying' the port medical officer. Dr. 11. K. Cork'ill, the chief boarding inspector and the customs officials left Wellington a few minutes after the Natone and waited in tho neighbourhood of Pencarrow until the dock came nearer. The view was a striking one as the dock crept into the entrance at 5.27 p.m. Ahead of the dock and its tugs the loia steamed slowly, while behind the dock were the Natone and the Janie Seddon, the former with many passengers. Overhead aeroplanes swept and circled, sometimes only a few feet higher than the top of the dock itself. Pleasure launches nnd bustling outboard craft darted to and fro. - Welcome From Lighthouse. The foghorn at Pencarrow Lighthouse was sounded as a welcome and the Zwarte Zee replied with a long blast of its whistle. A moment later the flag signal "thank you" was run up the foremast,of the Wittee Zee and on the dock. After the entrance had been safely negotiated -the Janie Seddon drew past tho dock alongside the Zwarte Zee for boarding purposes. A clean bill of health was given and everything was in order. The police took charge of two stowaways who had travelled from Nelson where the Zwarte Zee hurriedly coaled at the week-end. The Wittee Zee was boarded nnd the dock swung round in the tow of the Zwarte Zee alone. All round the shore at Point Jerningham and along the road cars could be seen packed with interested spectators. The vMuratai, loaded to capacity with passengers, who had given the dock and its tugs a rousing welcome near the entrance, was still in the procession. Another change of course and*the Zwarte Zee headed for the dock's future berthing place at the north end of Lambton Harbour. The Janie Seddon came close to the dock, being overshadowed by its vast freeboard, and the mc-/» on board were granted pratique. End of Long Journey.

On the Thorndon breastwork and Pipitea Wharf there were dense crowds watching the approach of the dock. The towing hawser slackened and the dock gradually came to a standstill. Two anchors were dropped from its forward end at 7.10 p.m., and the tow was at an end. Although they appeared uniformly happy that the end ot the long tow was reached, the crews of the two tugs and the men on the big dock itself were neither excited nor talkative. There were 18 Dutchmen on the Zwarte Zee, 15 on the Wifcte Zee and 10 on the dock, including the three respective masters. Captain B. L. Hart, Captain R Weltevredo and Captain Jan van Brast. . They had brought the dock 13,627 miles, at an average speed of four knots. They left England on July 15 and the trip passed without a serious incident. Captain Hart and many of the others speak English.