COLLISION IN THE HARBOUR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 38

COLLISION IN THE HARBOUR.

While Captain Featherstone and some of his men were having their tea in the schooner Kestrel’s cabin at about half-past five last Thursday, they were somewhat startled by hearing one of the crew on deck calling out to someone in a warning voice to “ Look out;” but when, almost immediately afterwards, the vessel sustained a great shock and the noise of crashing timbers was heard, it was evident that something serious had happened. _lt appears that the tug Duco, while coming alongside the ferry jetty off Waterloo quay, steamed into the Kestrel, which was lying alongside the breastwork opposite Cable and Co.’s foundry. How the accident happened, and who is to blame, it would hardly be fair to state until after an enquiry is held. The ketch, which is of 51 tons register and owned by the Kaiapoi Produce Company, is very severely damaged. Her port side, which was struck by the l)uco, is cut right down to the water’s edge amidships, while the starboard side is terribly knocked about through striking the fenders between the vessel and the breastwork. When the water commenced to come in through tlio port side, the cargo was shifted to the other side, but as the water then started to make its way in through there also, the work of getting the cargo out was immediately proceeded with. So quickly were these steps taken by Captain Featherstone and so expeditiously was the work carried out that all the produce was landed uninjured. The Kestrel arrived at Wellington from Kaiapoi on Wednesday week with 70 tons of produce, all of which, with the exception of seven tons for Collingwood, was consigned to Wellington merchants. It was fortunate indeed that at the time of the mishap the little vessel had only 20 tons on board, for if she had been much lower in the water she would doubtless have filled and sunk, and all the flour, wheat, &c., would have been ruined. Captain Kendall, rnarino surveyor to the Underwriters’ Association, happened to bo a passenger on the Duco, and witnessed the accident. He made a preliminary survey of the damaged craft, but owing to the darkness it was impossible to ascertain the exact extent of the injury. Just as she collided with the Kestrel the Duco commenced to go astern, but the powerful tug had by that time crashed into the ketch, and it i 3 feared that the cost of repairs will run into hundreds of pounds.