STEAMER STRANDED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7027, 15 January 1910, Page 7

STEAMER STRANDED

- BIG LINEB-KAIPARA STRIKES OBSTRUCTION.IX RANGITOTO CHANNEL. TWO HOLDS FLOODED. rHESS ASSOCIATION. ACCKLAND, January .11. Shipping circles were excited this afternoon by a report that the Now Zealand Shipping Company's fine steamer Kaipara. which had left at, about hal?-j past two for London, with- a large cargo, had met with a: mishap in tlio Rangitoto Channel and was in a serious condition. Gradually the rumour was confirmed, and the fact became, known that the vessel had struck something in the Channel, and her position was serious, and that there was a good deal of water in.two of her forward hold*. - The ■'•news was first conveyed to town .by the signalman at North Head, who noticed the boat in difficulties,' aiid sent a telephone "message to the harbour authorities' and the New Zealand Shipping Company.' . . The vessel now lies in the channel, her keel, rcs'tiug/on the bottom, and there is some feet of water in No. 1 and No. 2 holds. -,. ' . . :'; A PASSENGER'S ACCOUNT. Lieut. ETvves, of tire British Army, who is travelling .{o.r his liealth,. was one of the passengers who embarked on the steamer 'for London. He gives tho following account: — "Wo left the Railway Wharf at about two o'clock, and carried the pilot to a little round the heads. We had dropped the pilot, and'were going at full speed when just between tlie two light buoys there was a slight grating, and tne steamer, which had a considerable list when we left -the jetty, listed over .a good deal more; in fact I thought she was going over.altogether. Then tho ship suddenly righted. :•; "The engines were stopped, and tho wells were founded. It was found that in No. 1 and'No.-2 the water was making rapidlr. Lifebelts were served out and vthovboats.'were-lowered in remark, ably quick time. .Perfect order and -discipline prevailed, and the captain was as cool as -though he was just going alongside the wharf. The water round 119 was fortunately very .shallow—a little over live-fathoms—and the vessel gradually settle;! down with her keel on the bottom,-and there she lies hard and fast. She is considerably more down by i-the bow than the stern. "While we lay in this plight a little coastal boat . (the Chelmsford) camo alongside, and several of the passengers .went off in her back to Auckland." ;. CARGO TO BB LIGHTERED. '-• The'-'Auckland Harbour Board's tug :Awhinrt-was despatched to the scene of the/..-.mecident -at . once,* and several 'launches also went down from Auckland. Arrangements have been, made to send the firefloat down this evening to see if I the Kaipara can be pumped out, though there does not seem much chance that I that will be , possible' at - this j uncture. ! The company has ' made ■" arrangements 'with the Northern Company and the, Union Company's Talune-to lighter the cargo from the stranded ship. ' ' ! "''NO DIFFICULTY IN-REFLOATING . I-'.'•'_."•;, ■>'■■.■ ' 'HEP; _-•■■• ■:-'■ .• Captain Duder, harbourmaster, who 'went down to view the Kaipara aboard tho tug' Awliina, states that'the vessel lay about'a mile past the'North Head. Her bow- was aground; but - her stern afloat in the channel. She,had probably struck- an obstruction near- the bow,,,between the- No. -.1 and No. 2 holds, and water had entered both of these.. The vessel is. fitted with water-tight 'eompa.rtmeuts, and'these"had ~prevented the water running through ! the' ship. '■' "'Asked whether there would'.be any great difficulty in' refloating 7 the lrher. Captain Duder replied, "Oh, no. 'lt will simply be a matter of lightening her , by discharging part' of :the cargo, and then getting the pumps to work. She will then iloat off and can come back to port for' repairs." There was no danger of tho water getting into the other holds, but according to the meagre information "leahed'while the Awlitna was near the Kaipara the first-and-second holds were completely flooded.. If the vessel had listed at all after striking that list .had disappeared when she took the ground, 'and tlie steamer was''on'an';even keel. , ;:'.;,''.'',"; Valuable.".'CAE6oV:' r j.- r ''' ; ; ■.The-Kaipara, commanded -by Captain Cornwall,..arrived from 'the south on Thursday afternoon, and carried a larga cargo of frozen meat and butter. She added 'considerably to ' her cargo in Auckland, 20,000 boxes of butter' • and iCSd;OOO worth'of bullion'being part of her local lading.' . '"" ' THE PASSENGERS. ' ,' ■ ■ < .The Kaipara has , limited saloon aocbmmodation; and carried following passengers :—Mesdarfles Hughes and Cornwall, Miss Brigham, Messrs Hughes and'A. B. Stewart, and • Lieutenant B. I ■ When- the vessel left the ..port this ' afternoon she had a marked list, and, being deeply laden, .was drawing about 26ft lOin of,water,,.'.■' It was dead,, low '.water:at,the,.timeof- sailing. ' , ..,,.'.'l': ' ;. ' r V ' LATEST TAETICULAES,;;, . :;;;', raph> : iNR-tisH' op^wateW/.' . SALVAGING OPERATIONS NOW ;. .•:;,, . prockeping. \ ' r ,yJ_ ; AUCKLAND, January 14. ' The Kaipara, when she struck, mad» 22ft of water in three -minutes, , and settled down by'-her head,., haying her bow about 12ft out of the water, the

stern water line showing about 2ft above. . . She appears to havo been ripped along the boitom from under the foremast to near the funnel. , Tho passengers were taken oh ana brought to Auckland. It was decided to salvage the cargo. The Northern Company's Taniwha was 3ent down with a number of workmen, and the salvaging is now proceeding. After the cargo is taken out it is intended, as far as can be gathered, to pump the water out, effect temporary repairs, and place the steamer in tnc Calliope Dock. It was low tide when the vessel struck, and the water has now crept up the forward part of the vessel to such an extent that it reaches within a foot or more of the deck.

Captain N. De la Cour Cornwall, E.N.IL, is in command of the Kaipara, and his officers are:—Chief, Mr P. LWorthington; second, Mr 11. G. Coyte; third, Mr W. S. Paint; fourth, Mr )i. Dawson; chief engineer, Mr V. CorU-'tt; second, Mr F. MurshUll; third, Mr U. Sheer; fourth, Mr W. Hodgson; faith, Mr A. Davidson; sixth, Mr W. Ardtigh; chief refrigerating engineer, Mr H. South; second, Mr J. Cairns; chief steward, Mr P. Bowen. The Kaipara's cargo includes—From Wellington: 3031 bales wool, 1711 carcases mutton, 3627 carcases lamb, 2i' bales skins, 27 bales hemp, 6196 crates cheese. From Picton: 821 bales wool, 56 bales- sheepskins, 35 Ousks tallow, 2-3-bales hemp, 145. bales ■ tow. From Vv'anganui: 3127 bales wool, 10 casks tallow, 2tf casks pelts. ■ There is a quantity of meat loaded at Wellington in the lower hold of No. 2, and butter loaded at Auckland in No. z "'tween decks. -There is some -wool'from. Wellington in No. 1 lower • hold, and cheese in the No. 1 'tween decks. The Knipura's total dairy produce approximated 19,000 boxe3 of butter, and 13,880 crates of cheese, made up as fellow's:—From Pa tea, 4531 crates cheese; fiom Wellington, 1665 crates cheese; from Otago, 7519 crates cheese; from Auckland, 19,000 l_tox.es butter, 165 crates cheese.

The Kaipara, 7392 tons gross, is a fourmasted twin screw stoamor, built in 1903 by J. Brown \mel Co., Ltd., Glasgow, mainly for the cargo trade, being fitted \jvith considerable refrigerated cargo space. Her principal dimensions are:—Length, 16Qft -tin; beam, 58ft 2ir.; depth,, 31ft. Her engines are also bv J. Broiyn and'Co., Ltd., Glasgow. li'.mgitoto channel is' a lengthy channel running between the mountainous Bangitoto Islaisd and the mainland, and leading to the inner Auckland harbour. The soundings shown in a chart of the channel indicate only 31ft of water in some places, whilst 36ft is frequently shown to be the depth.