BARQUE TOWED OFF

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9691, 20 June 1917, Page 3

BARQUE TOWED OFF

GOOD WORK BY TERAWHITI DIVER TO EXAMINE THE VESSEL, The four-masted barque which ran ashore at Rent-arrow Hoad on Monday evening was towed off and safely berthed at the Railway Wharf yesterday morning. It was indieated in yesterday’s “Xew Zealand Times” that the Union Company’s salvage tug Terawhiti was about to return to the vicinity of the barque when the paper went to press, as word had been received at I a.m. that tii© sailor was showing signs of moving astern. Tho tide was rising, high water being about 3.40 a.m.

The Terawhiti loft the wharf at 2.30 a.m., and on arrival at the scone ol tho stranding a small lino was run from the barque by one of the sailer’s lifeboats to the 'terawhiti. Tho lino, was bent on to a new 14-inch Manila hawser belonging to the barque. The smaller line was passed around tho tugs winch, and was hove on until the end of the big hawser was brought aboard tho Terawhiti. The Manila hawser was bent on to a 4-inch wire which was paid out over the stern of tho barque. The Terawhiti, on getting tho signal that all was clear, throw her weight on to the tow-lines, and after a struggle of about half an hour gradually tho sailor cleared, muck to the relief of everyone concerned. The barque had slipped her cables, and as she slid out of her dangerous position she took a graceful sweep round, and was towed stern first up to'tbe stream. When the barque was clear of the foul ground, tho ICaraka, which had remained at hand throughout the night, made fast alongside and helped to bring her up. Tho tug Natone, which had gone down to the heads in the early morning, followed the vessels up the harbour. The Natono then transferred Captain J. Dawson, the harbourmaster, and Captain R. S. Walton, local marine superintendent of tho Union Company, to the barque, where congratulations Wore exchanged. Subsequently she was neatly berthed alongside the Railway Wharf by tho tugs Earaka - and Natono shortly before 10 a.m. By a coincidence, berthed on the opposite side of the same wharf was the Union Company’s cargo steamer Komata, which 'some time ago narrowly escaped becoming a total wreck through running on tho, rocks close to the spot, ■ whore tho barque went ashore. Throughout yesterday tho barque’s pumps were kept going steadily. Tho leak was kept at bay, and it is anticipated that serious damage has not resulted, although there was abundant evidence of some of the ship’s cargo being affected. Captain E. B. Atwood, acting on behalf of the ship’s owners, is surveying the hatches and cargo, and probably will to report on tho condition of the hull under instruction of tho underwriters, Gannaway and Co., the stevedores, had a number of men engaged yesterday in preparing to discharge the 'barque, and unloading operations wnl commence at 8 o’clock this morning. A diver is to make an exterior examination of the vessel’s hull. It transpires that the Marine Department has no power to order a magisterial inquiry into the circumstances of the mishap, as tho barque is a forcign-owned vessel, but formal evidence will probably be taken by tho local Superintendent of Mercantile Marine. . „ Considerable credit is due to Captain Dawson for the refloating of two barque as his local knowledge was invaluable, and Captain Jackson Fowler, of the tug Terawhiti, has been complimented for the competent and successful manner in which he handled his vessel.