STEAMER ARAHURA LEAKING

Otago Witness, Issue 3244, 17 May 1916, Page 26

STEAMER ARAHURA LEAKING

CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE TO CARGO AND MAILS. GISBORNE, May 15. Some concern was expressed this morning over the non-arrival of the Union Company's steamer Arahura, which left Auckland for Gisborne and Napier at 2.10 p.m. on Saturday. Shortly alter midday the local manager of the Union Company was advised from Auckland that the Arahura had wirelessed that she had sprung a leak, and was taking shelter under Capo Runaway, but would be able to come on to Gisborne. The vessel arrived in the bay at 2.45 p.m., all trim and apparently unaffected. After a conference between Captain Dryden and the local manager of the company, it was decided to tranship all cargo and passengers here, and that the vessel should return to Auckland for docking. The Arahura is now being lightered, and alj cargo brought ashore. She carries 400 tons of general cargo, mostly comprising sugar for Gisborne, and the sugar and a large quantity of the balance of the cargo is badly damaged. Lightering will be completed by the morning, and the vessel will leave for Auckland about midday tomorrow. The passengers for Napier will be taken on by the Tarawera, leaving here to-morrow night. On leaving Auckland on Saturday afternoon the Arahura immediately ran into dirty weather, which became steadily worse until in the Bay of Plenty a terrific gale, with mountainous seas, was encountered. The vessel laboured badly on Saturday night, and it was ascertained on Sunday morning that she had sprung a leak, and soon 9ft of water was reported in the forward holds. Cantain Dryden decided to run for shelter, and fetched up off Whanganarae (Cape Runaway) at midday yesterday. Here the Dumps were got going, and were found easily able to cope with the leak. The vessel rode out the storm, and lett to come on to Gisborne at 4- o'clock this morning, arriving as stated. Some of the mails are badly damaged mainly those for Napier. The extent of the damage to the cargo cannot be computed till the morning, when it is also honed to get at the leak. The Arahura's mails and some passengers went on to Napier by the Ripple to-night. The steamer Ngatoro, which was four clays overdue from Limestone Island, arrived this afternoon all well. The weather has now cleared to a certain extent, and the swollen rivers are receding Telegraphic communication with coastal townships is interrupted but no very serious damage is reported elsewhere.