MISHAP TO ENGINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21114, 23 February 1932, Page 10

MISHAP TO ENGINES.

PLIGHT OF MOTOR-SHIP,

' ADRIFT NEAR A REEF.

RESCUE SHIP USES ROCKET.

[nv TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] "WELLINGTON, Monday.

After a prolonged and eventful voyage, during which slio was temporarily crippled by a breakdown of her engines, tho Holm Shipping Company's new motor-ship Argus arrived at Wellington to-night under her own power. Sho had been towed for more than 36 hours by the steamer Gabriclla.

Tho Argus left Napier at 5.20 p.m. on Friday and experienced engino trouble about 1 a.m. on Saturday, when she was 31 miles south of Napier. Tho vessel drifted while repairs to a "big-end" of the main engine were being carried out. Thcro was a strong south-easterly gale, and a heavy sea was running.

By mid-day on Saturday the Argus had drifted to within about a quarter of a mile of the reef, which extends about one and a-half miles south-westward from Black Head. Her engines were still out of commission, and it was in this position that tho Gabriella, bound from Wellington to Gisborne, found her. After several attempts had been made by the Gabriella to get a line on board tho Argus, she used her rocket apparatus and fired a lino across the vessel.

Napier was the nearest port, but in view of the weather, Captain C. W, Ostenfeld, master of the Gabriella, decided that he had better tow the Argus to Wellington.

It was .1 long (ow, and, with a strong wind and heavy sea running, a slow one. On Sunday night the seas were so heavy that tho two ships practically hove-to. Early this morning repairs were completed and the engines were kept going to ease the strain on the heavy tow-line. About 6 a.m., however, tho towline carried away. The Argus then continued on tlie run to Wellington, under her own power, the Gabriella remaining with her.

Since (lie Argus left Cardiff on September 15 she has, in tho words of olio of file c-row, "clone everything but sink." Engine trouble developed on tho voyage and as sho reached nearly every port later than had been anticipated, she ran short of provisions. As she was Hearing Papeete her engines again failed and she drifted to within 100 yards of a reef before they were again got going.