MISHAP TO RANGATIRA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 13834, 16 April 1938, Page 5

MISHAP TO RANGATIRA

COLLISION WITH ARCHILLES ACCIDENT IN HEAVY GALE. Electrio Telegraph—Pre6e Association WELLINGTON, Last (sight. A sensational mishap involving one of his Majesty’s ships and the interisland express steamer Rangatira occurred in the harbour on Thursday night. At the height of a north-west gale blowing in squalls of neaily 70 miles an hour, the Rangatira, whjeh was departing for Lyttelton with about 1000 jiassengers on board, got into difficulties after leaving the wharf. After clearing the Waoganella, which was lying almost right ahead of her at the outer tee of Queen’s Wharf, the Rangatira let go her anchor to bring her head round and to prevent her going too far to leeward. The Rangatira then steamed ahead to clear the Clyde Quay wharf, but Tier anchor fouled the cable of the H.M.S. Achilles which was berthed there. The cruiser was torn away bodily from the wharf, her anchor dragging and all her moorings parting, while the starboard after part of the Rangatira struck the bow of the Achilles and sustained minor damage to the or structure. The Rangatira got clear by slipping her anchor and 15 fathoms of cable. The Achilles went aground on a soft mudbank abreast of the entrance to and the inner breakwater of the boat harbour and at right angles to the head of the wharf. She remained in that position for four hours, being refloated on the rising tide with the assistance ot two tugs shortly after midnight. The cruiser sustained damage to her propellers and may have to> be docked. . The Rangatira after getting clear went to sea, clearing Pencarrow Head at 9 o’clock.