IN THE DOCK.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13178, 10 February 1936, Page 5

IN THE DOCK.

SECOND EDITION

THE LUCKY RANGATIRA.

SMALL MARGIN OF SAFETY

Electric Telegraph.—Press Association

WELLINGTON. Last Night. How etensively damaged was the Union Company’s inter-island express service steamer Rangatira. when she struck a reel near Wellington heads on the morning of Sunday, February 2, was revealed only when she was on the floating dock this morning.

The damage is continuous for 140 feet from the bow, and it was only the immense power of her engines that enabled her to be backed off the reef and brought safely into port stern first. In this the Rangatira’s bow rudder was of great service, and. it missed being put hopelessly out of action by only a few inches. In fact, an examination of the vessel in dock to-day revealed the very small margin of safety the Rangatira had when she limped into port, and emphasised the great skill shown by her master. Captain W. D. Cameron, in extricating his ship from an apparently hopeless position and bringing her to safety. It will be days before the lull extent of the damage. both internal and external, is revealed, and even a detailed description of the external damage % it appeared to-day would be almost an impossible task. The whole of the Rangatira’s keel from the stem to a point approximately under the forward of her two funnels, is set up and scores of frames badly bent and twisted, and aft from that point to the mainmast the keel is damaged. To places under Nos 1 and 2 holds, where collision mats were placed in position to check the entry of water, the keel plate*, and those adjoining are twisted and torn from position for practically the whole length of this portion of the vessel’s bottom. The foot of the stem, which is solid steel, is twisted and torn and shows tlie tremendous power of the impact. Over the whole of this portion of the bull rocks of varying sizes are wedged firmly into gaps where the plates have been torn away from the frames.