THE REFLOATED BARQUE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9692, 21 June 1917, Page 3

THE REFLOATED BARQUE

HULL BEING EXAMINED. A commencement was made at 1 p.m. yesterday by Gannaway and Co., tho stevedores, to discharge the Wellington portion of ):he cargo from the barque which was temporarily stranded on Monday on tho shore off Fencarrow Head low-lying light. Two gangs of men were 'engaged 4n the unloading operations.which wero effected by tho hydraulic cranes on tiio Railway wharf, where the ■Vessel is berthed. Good progress had been made until 4 p.m., when work was discontinued for th© night. Until thei extent of tho damage to the hull of the barque can be roughly estimated, it will not be decided whether the whole of the vessel’s cargo will bo put out here, ' The Wellington Harbour Beard’s diver/ Ur August Hans, commenced an underwater exterior examination of the barque’s hull yesterday morning, and continued throughout the day. His work, which is, of course, only of a superficial character, will occupy two cr three days. It will depend upon whether the barque will go to Lyttelton for docking or will be taken up on tho Wellington patent slip. Mr Archibald Walker, surveyor for Lloyds’ Register, was appointed yesterday to represent the underwriters with respect to the condition of the vessel’s hull. The longest vessel ever taken up on the Wellington patent slip was the Union Co.'s steamer Kbmata, which measures 287 ft in length. The heaviest vesse 1 vet placed on the cradle of __ the slip “was the Union Co.’s steamer Kaiapoi. of 2003 tons gross register. The barque measures 312£t 9in in length, and her gross tonnage is 2842. The patent slin management, however, informed a “New Zealand Times” representative yesterday that the barque can be accommodated on the slip if she is reqnired to be repaired at Wellington. Captain E. B. Atwood, on behalf of the ship’s owners, surveyed the vessel’s hatches and top of cargo yesterday to ascertain tho general condition, quite apart from any damage resulting from tho stranding on Monday night. He reports that the hatches and cargo on ton are in good order. Judging by tho results of pumping operations some of the -underneath cargo has suffered considerably through tho mishap on Monday. Tho ship’s pumps yesterday had the leak well in hand, and were at times able to spell for a while. Tho barque’s port anchor, which the "slipped” on Tuesday morning when being towed off, lies in a dangerous position in the middle of foul ground. There are about 75 fathoms of cable attached to the anchor, and the whole lot, during these war times, may, be valued at over £3OO. This was the only anchor left behind by the vessel. , '' Those who were closely associated with tho operations of refloating thebarque nav a warm tribute to the fine work accomplished in co-operation by Pilot Spence and Captain C. V. Olsen, of the barque, in handling the tow lines. The harbourmaster’s staff and the Union Co/s men. together with, the crews of the barque and Terawhlti, worked with the utmost zeal. The fire which was made on the beach by the lighthouse keener at Fencarrow was greatly appreciated. as it provided a strong- light on a night that was exceedingly dark, and thus facilitated the work .