SHIPPING CASUALTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 37

SHIPPING CASUALTY.

THE KAIPARA STRANDED MISHAP IN RANGITOTO CHANNEL. TWO HOLDS FLOODED. AUCKLAND, January 14. Shipping circles were thrown into something like consternation this afternoon when a rumour that the New Zealand Shipping Company’s fine steamer Kaipara, which had left about half past 2 for London laden with a large cargo, had met with a mishap In the Rangitoto Channel and was in a serious condition. Grad nail v the rumour was confirmed, and the fact became known that the vessel had struck something in the channel, that her position was serious, and that there was a good deal of water in two of her forward holds. The news was first conveyed to town by the signalman at North Head, who noticed the boat in difficulties and sent a telephone message through to the harbour authorities and the New Zealand Shipping Company. The vessel nowlies in the channel, her keel resting on the bottom, and there are some feet of water in No. 1 and No. 2 holds. Lieutenant Elwes, of the British army, who is travelling for his health, was one of the seven or eight passengers w-ho embarked on the steamer for London. He was seen soon after the accident, and he gave the following account:—“We left the railway wharf about 2 o’clock, and carried the pilot a little round the heads. Soon after’ we were going at full speed, when just between the two light buoys there .was a slight grating, and the steamer, which had a considerable list when Ave left the jetty, listed 0A r er a good deal more—in fact, I thought she Avas going over altogether. Then the ship suddenly righted. The engines AA r ere . topped, and the Avells Avere sounded. “It Ava.s found that in No. 1 and No. 2 holds the Avater was making rapidly. Lifebelts were served out and the boats were loAvered ,in remarkably quick time. Perfect order’ and discipline prevailed, and the captain was as cool as though he Avas just gome: alongside the wharf. The ivy ter 1 round' us Ava.s fortunately very shalloAV—a little over five fathoms —and the vessel gradually settled doAvn with her keel on the bottom, and Avhere she lies hard and fast. She is considerably more don n by the borv than the stern. While we lay in this plight a little coastal boat (the Chelmsford) came alongside, and several of the passengers Avent off in her back to Auckland.’’ The Auckland Harbour Boaird’s tug Arvliina Avas despatched to the scene of the accident at once, and seA-eral launches also Avent doAvn from Auckland. Arrangements have been made to send the fireboat ' -wn this evening to see if the Kaipara, be pumped out, though there docs not ,-cin much chance that that Avill be possible at this juncture. The company has made arrangements Avith the Northern Company and the Union Company s Talune to lighter the cargo from the etranded ship. Captain Duder, the harbourmaster. Avho t down to view the Kaipara aboard ,:o tug AAvhira, stated that the vessel lay about a mile past the North Head. Her boAv Avas aground, but her stern Avas a float 1n the channel. She had probably, Captain Duder thought, struck on the obstruction near the bow, between the 'r. 1 and No. 2 bolds, and the Avater entered both of these. The A'&ssel i* filled Avith watertight compartments, and these prevented the water running through the ship. On being asked if there avouM be any great difficulty in refloating the liner. Captain Duder replied : “ Oh, no. It Avill simply be a matter of lightening her by iischai’glng part of the cargo, and then getting the pumps to work. She Avill then float off. and can come hack to port for repairs.” There is no danger of the water getting into the other’ holds, but, according to the meagre information gleaned Avhile the Awlura Avas .near the Kaipara, the first and second holds Ayere completely flooded. If the vessel had listed at all after striking that list had disappeared when she took the ground, and the steamer Avas on an even. keel. A VALUABLE CARGO. The Kaipara, commanded by Captain Cornwall, arrived from the south on

Thursday afternoon, and carried a large cargo of frozen meat and butter, and added considerably to her cargo in Auckland, 20,000 boxes of butler and £50,000 worth of bullion being part of her local loading. The Kaipara has limited saloon accommodation, and carried the folloAVing passengers:—Meedames Hughes and Cornwall, Miss Brigham, Messrs Hughes, A. B. Stewart, and L. B. Ehves. When the vessel left port this afternoon, she had a marked list, and, being deeply laden, Avas drawing about 26ft lOin of water. It Avas d-eau low level at the time of sailing. FURTHER PARTICULARS. When the steamer struck she settled down by her head. She appeal’s to have been ripped along the bottom from under the foremast to near the funnel. The passengers Avere taken off and brought to Auckland. It Avas decided to salvage the cargo, and the Northern Company’s Taniwha was sent doAvn Avith a number of Avork.men, and the salvaging is noAv proceeding. After the cargo is taken out it is intended, as far as can be gathered, to pump the AA'ater out, effect temporary repairs, and place the steamer in the Calliope dock It Avas low tide Avhen the A r essel struck, and the Avater bais npAv crept up the forward part of the vessel to euch an extent that it reaches Within a foot or more of the deck. ' VESSEL BADLY DAMAGED. MEAT AND CHEESE RUINED. (From. Our Own Correspondent.) AUCKLAND, January 16. The news of the grounding of the Kaipara in the fainvay of Rangitoto Channel came as a thunderbolt to local shipping circles. That .such a thing could happen was never dreamed of, as vessels of even greater draught than the Kaipara have passed to and fro through Rangitoto Channel times out of number without any such mishap. The supposition is that the Kaipara, being heavily loaded and going out at low tide, struck a rock, but no .such rock, it is stated, is recorded on the Admiralty chart, Avhich has been used for many years and which has hitherto been found perfectly accurate. The fairway of the channel, Avhich is marked by buoys, has always been regarded as deep water free from any obstruction, but now that this accident has taken place an exhaustive survey will doubtless be made to ascertain the exact depth throughout. A regrettable feature of the mishap is the fact that the Kaipara was the first monthly steamer which was to leave the port of Auckland for London direct. In the past the Home boats have made Auckland the final port of call only once in a way; but the New Zealand Shipping Company, recognising the groAving importance of the port, decided to make Auckland the final port of call for their steamers leaving once a month, and the Kaipara Ava.s the first vessel to leave under the new arrangement. Some nautical men contend that the Kaipara should not have been allowed to leave port at all with such a heavy list at such a low tide. They consider that she grounded on the bottom of the channel because of these conditions. One of the passengers of the Kaipara, in speaking to a i-eporter, said that he Avas particularly grateful that the vessel struck where she did, for it was his opinion that with all the holds full, a deck cargo, and a big list, the vessel may have turned turtle somewhere in deep Avater. That, hoAvever, is the private opinion of a landsman. Most of the passengers say that they experienced a very slight shock when the ship struck, but a couple of the crew Avho were in the forecastle at the time say that there was a very considerable shock and a loud report when the accident occurred. There was no sort of panic on board. The boats were at once swung out, and lifebelts were served to the ladies, and all were ready to take to the boats when the Chelmsford most opportunely came alongside and took the passengers back to town. At high tide the big ship lies with her boAV decks only a few feet out_ of water, which is up to the hawser pipes. She has a list to the star-board side, but not sufficient to make any apparent difference to the level of the deck. The decks are spick and span, but forward of the

bridge everything is: littered- •-over with, gear, and a glance down the gaping hatches reveals the No. 1 and No. 2 holde full.of water, with ; sheep carcases and butter boxes and cheese crates floating about. Sparsely-clad lumpers standing oil temporary platforms fish up the npakipg boxes and ' carcases withirons, boathooks, etc., and Pass them up to the deck, where they_ are transferred to trie lighters alongside. of clearing;the holds is necessarily- -.somewhat slow, as the rising tide niakes the task of securing the boxes'more difficult. Oh* Saturday a diver- went down to make" an examination of the ships bottom. It is understood that he discovered one rent about Gin wide and 4ft or sft long on the starboard side forward. Several plates' and a number ot rivets are loose, and some ribs are Tent. It is, however, thought, from the rapidity with which the water came m, that there must be, more damage, the diver again went clown this morning, and reported that the size of the hole was sft or so. , Salvage operations are proceeding, ana the pumping out of the holds will be in h?nd to-morrow. In the meantime Lie Kaipara Is the object of much curiosity, and the Ferry Company is reaping a harvest from excursionists. . “It is very difficult to say anything as to how the accident occurred,” said the harbourmaster (Captain Under) when interviewed bv a Herald reporter. but I am satisfied that the harbour is as o-ood to-day as ever it was. Our own Admiralty chart is used, and w heneyei we have tested the water the chart has erred on the safe side, as we have always found that they always allow a margin of safety.” In Captain Under’s opinion the Kaipara is not now where she struc.v.. “Oh, dear no,” he said in answer to a further inquiry; “ I could not say how far she has shifted, but there is not less than from 51ft to 32ft of water all round her at low tide in her present position, and that is on their own soundings.” In answer to a. question as to the depth of water in Rangitoto .Channel, the harbourmaster said that in the deep-water section at low water there was about 31ft and about 10 more feet at high water. AUGKLANU, January 15. The engineer in charge ot operations does not anticipate much trouble in getting the water out unless further large holes are found, as it will be an easy matter to cover the hole with matting. A list of the cargo damaged is not yet obtainable, the cargo having been shipped in the south. It consists of butter, meat, wool, cheese, and other produce. The meat will be ruined, and the cheese will probably be useless, but the butter will be reboxed and sent Home. The coal loaded on top of the general cargo in the third hold, .which is forward of the engine room, is being discharged in order to ascertain whether any damage has.-.been done in this hold. The work of discharging the cargo, the value of which is estimated at £140,000, 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. .Rivets are torn out and some plates 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 temjxirarily repairing the ship with a view of getting her into dock was begun. Members of the Harbour Board and the harbourmaster, on being interviewed, stated that the harbour was perfectly safe. Many theories as to the grounding of the vessel have been advanced, all differing widely. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, January 16. The mishap to the Kaipara in the fairway to Auckland Harbour is, it is stated on good authority, likely to make the P. and O. Company reconsider its decision to make Auckland its New Zealand port of call. There is evidently a great element of risk to large deep-laden ships going out at low tide. In regard to the P. and O. Company, the difficulty could no doubt be overcome by starting the outward journey at high tide. The question is also likely to engage the attention of the Admiralty. In regard to the P. and O. sailings, as one of the directors of that company is now in Auckland, he will be able to get information at first hand. THE CARGO. CHRISTCHURCH, January 16. Th following is a. list of the cargo of the Kaipara:—l3,s67 bales of wool, 236 bales of skins, 529 bales of hemp. 13,897 cases of cheese, 4273 carcases of mutton, 5602 carcases of lamb, 1 piece of greenstone, 486 casks of tallow, 1145 bales of tow, 96 dumps of tow, 143 casks of pelts, 47 sacks of peas, 5491 quarters of beef. 49 crates of mutton, 604 packages of frozen sundries, 115 casks of oleo, 5 casks of casings, 76 sacks of hides, 167 cases of canned meats, 1 bale of cowbair, 603 sacks of oats, 402 sacks of .grass seed, 89 bales of leather, 28 casks of calfskins, 8 bales of rubber waste, 545 bales of flax, 250 bags of gum, 898 cases of gum, 19,897 packages of butter, and 40 tons of concentrates. The Kaipara has 1595 cases of cheese on board from Uunedin, which she loaded at Wellington. OFFICIAL SURMISES. the HARBOUR. UEFENDEU. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) AUGKLANU, January 17. Whatever may be the cause of Friday’s mishap, the harbour authorities affirm the emphatic belief that Rangitoto chan-

nel affords .perfect safety for the passage: of vessels of even greater draught than the Kaipara. On being interviewed on trie subject by a Herald representative the harbourmaster (Captain Under) instanced how the American Fleet of 16 battleships was brought into Auckland harbour in August, 1908, under- the supervision of the board’s shore officers in perfect safety. “ let,” said Captain Under, “ that was done at three-quarters ebb tide and on a hazy, foggy morning, and the last ship was anchored at nearly low tide. Not the slightest hitch occurred, and not the slightest symptom such as of touching the bottom of Rangitoto channel or of anywhere in the harbour was ever felt, and yet some of those battleships drew a little over 28tt of water, as against the Kaipara’s 27ft.” Have any vessels drawing a greater depth of water than those battleships ever entered the harbour? “ Yes,” replied Capt. Under, “H.M.S. Powerful. She has drawn the greatest depth of water of any vessel during my experience here. She draws a few inches over 29ft when she goes out after taking in a large quantity of coal, and she, as you know, has been in and out time and again without experiencing the slightest mishap. The N.Z. Shipping Co.’s steamer Otaki Icit the Railway wharf about a year ago drawing 29ft aft, but not so much forward, and she got out safely enough. She did not, however, go out at low water. In the deep water section of the channel there is not less than 31ft of water at low water spring tides, and it is only in a short length of the channel that there is as little as that. That is at about where the Kaipara is now lying. She has sunk in 31ft of water in one of the shallowest parts of the deep water channel. After that the channel steadily improves to six or seven fathoms out towards the beacon. The deep water section of the channel at low water springtides also is not unduly narrow. It has a width of not less than one-third of a mile or something like 2000 ft. That third of a mils of deep water in width would be considered a magnificent channel in many large ports. The Sydney deep water channel is not half as wide as that.” The. harbourmaster pointed out that although there was such a great length and breadth of deep water, it has been made safer and easier. “ The board has recently,” he said, with the approval of the Marine Department, put down two luminous buoys, one in 26ft of water and the other in 30ft of water, with half a mile between. The Admiralty direction gives full and adequate information"how to navigate the channel day or night without these buoys. Furthermore, Rangitoto beacon has been lighted within the past few years, which, coupled with the fact that the buoys are a mark day and night, and the other particulars I have already mentioned, make the channel perfectly safe for navigation at all times in clear weather.” Captain Duder added that there was quite enough water in the channel for the passage of the Dreadnought or any of the P. and O. steamers. About that there could be no possible doubt. He reiterated his opinion in reply to a question that the Kaipara did not not strike where she is now lying, but he declined to say where he thought she did strike. “ I don’t know why people should trouble themselves about that,” said the Hon. E. Mitchelson. ex-chairman of the Harbour Board, when asked for an opinion as to the safety of the port in view of the Kaipara smash-up. “ The port is as safe as any port in the world. It seems to me that the port should introduce compulsory pilotage, not because there is any doubt as to its safety, but rather than run the risk of such accidents occurring.” “ There is more water in the Auckland harbour than there is in Sydney,” continued Mr Mitchelson. “At the entrance to Sydney harbour there is nothing like so much as we have in Auckland. There is a bar just inside the entrance to Sydney Harbour, which at low tide has only about 28ft of water on it. and we have nothing so low as that in Auckland. The least depth we have here at the lowest tide is over 33ft, and from that it varies, increasing up to 60ft. The Kaipara arrived- at Dunedin on November 22 from London direct with a general cargo of about 7500 tons, and after •discharging- the local portion (about 5000 tons) she proceeded north to complete her discharge, and take in homeward cargo. Captain N. do la Com* Cornwall, R. N.R., is in command, his deck officers being Messrs P. E. Worthington chief, R. G. ■Oovte second, W. S. Point third, and H. Dawson fourth. Mr F. Corbett is chief engineer, and ibis assistants are, in order of rating-, Messrs F. Marshall, D. Sheer, W. Hodgson, A. Davidson, W. Ardagh. Messrs R. South and J. Cairns are chief and second respectively of the freezing department, and Mr F. Bowen chief steward.