THE STRANDED KAIPARA

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7028, 17 January 1910, Page 6

THE STRANDED KAIPARA

EXAMINED BY DIVERS

VESSEL TORN FOR CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE.

AUCKLAND, January 16. . Tho Kaipara still lies in Rangitoto Channel with her bows aground,and her stern out of water. The work of discharging her cargo, the value of which is estimated at .£IIO,OOO, was proceeding all day, several smaller shiploads of cargo being brought back to the wharves.

Two divers examined the vessel yesterday and to-day, one of whom reports that the vessel is torn for a considerable distance on the starboard side, and has a hole on the bilge measuring four feet by five feet. Rivets are torn out, and some of the plates are pushed in. It will probably take a good deal of work to repair the vessel. Further descents were made to-day, and the work of temporarily repairing the ship, with a view of getting her into dock, was begun.

One of the divers who went down found a hole on the starboard side, near the bow, six inches' wide and fi\'e feet long. The hold is flooded to a depth of .thirty-two feet, the vessel being down to the hawse-holes. DIFFICULT WORK.

The work of discharging tho flooded holds is; proceeding slowly, tho cargo having to be dragged out from under water with grappling hooks. A list of the cargo damaged is not yet obtainable, all having been shipped in the South. It consists of butter, meat, j wool, cheese, and other produce. The meat is ruined, and the cheese is probably useless; but the butter will be reboxed.and sent Home. Coal was loaded on top of tho general cargo in the third hold, which is forward of the engine-room, and this is being discharged in order to ascertain whether there is any damage to this hold. ■ The engineer in charge of operations does not ,anticipate much, trouble in getting , the water out, unless further holes are found, as it will be an easy matter to cover the hole with a mat. If the pumping is successful the .vessel will be afloat to-morrow. , Members of the Harbour -Board and the harbourmaster when •. interviewed stated that Auckland's harbour is perfectly safe. Many theories as to the grounding of the vessel have been advanced, all differing widely. Immense crowds visited the scene today. THE CARGO. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, January 16. Following is tho list of cargo on the steamer:—l3,s67 bales wool, 536 bales skins, 320 bales hemp, 13,897 cases cheese, 4273 carcases mutton, 5C02 carcases lamb, 1 piece greenstone, 4-86 oaefts tallow, 1145 bales tow, 96 dumps tow, 143 casks pelts, 47 sacks peas, 5401 quarters beef, 49 crates mutton, 604 packages frozen sundries, 114 casks oleo, 5 casks casings, 76 sacks hides, 167 cases canned meats, 1 bale, cowhair, 603 casks oats, 402 sacks grass seed, 89 bales leather, 2S casks calfskins, 8 bales rubber waste, 545 bales flax, 250 bags gnm, 898 cases gum, 19,897 packages butter, 40 tons concentrates. WAIKARAPA PRODUCE. Our Masterton correspondent states that included in the cargo of the stranded Kaipara are 500 cases of cheese from the Dalefield Dairy Company, 133 cases from the Parkvalo Company, and 35 cases from ! Longbush. all of which was being shipped to London. PREPARATIONS FOR REFLOATING. TBRAWHITI SENT NORTH. The Union Company's salvage tug Terawhiti was engaged on Saturday morning by the New Zealand Shipping

Company to proceed to Auckland to assist in the refloating of the Kaipara. ' Tho Terawhiti was quickly got into readiness for the trip northward; Captain J. W. Holmes signed on extra men for tho undertaking, fiis officers are : Chief, Mr W. D. Cameron . (late chief officer of the Takapuna); second, Mr A. Davi-es (late third of the Manuka); chief engineer, Mr John Rankin; second, Mr F. H. Davidson; third, Mr J. G. Dunwoodie. The Terawhiti left Wellington at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, and at 7 p.m. was sighted by the Ula making good progress in the prevailing fine weather. Four of the Union Company's ijowerful centrifugal pumps were sent northward by the midday express on Saturday iii charge of Mr John Daniel, the Union Company's local superintendent of repairs and salvaging expert, who also took a gang of men to assist in the work. A large of salvaging gear also was taken by Jlr Daniel. The Terawhiti should arrive at the scene some time tuis evening, and will commence operations without . delay. The Terawhiti's own pumping equipment has an enormous capacity, and with the additional ,pumps it is believed that no difficulty will be experienced in refloating the Kaipara. RANGITOTO CHANNEL. Rangitoto Channel, where tiio~Kaipara met with her mishap, is a narrow strip of water lying between the northern mainland and the Island of Rangitoto, a remarkable volcanic .peak rising to a height of over 900 ft. Some sharp rocks run out both from the island and from parts of the mainland, but the fairway, which is marked by buoys, is deep water, free, from any obstructions. Where the Kaipara lies is almost abreast of North Head, and midway between it and the point of the island nearest the entranco to the harbour. It is almost at the mouth of the channel on rounding North Head, and right in the fairway.