ACCIDENT TO S.S. UPOLU.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8588, 7 August 1899, Page 2

ACCIDENT TO S.S. UPOLU.

THE FLORA PICKS HER UP.

[Per Press Association.]

Napier, to-day. Tha Union Company's s.s. Flora arrived in port early this morning with the same ■Company's s.s. Upolu in tow. Captain Farmer, master of the Flora, reports picking up tho Upolu iv a disabled condition about nine miles off the East Cupe. In all probability the Upolu will be towed to Wellington for repairs to her mnehinery,

Later.— The eccentric strap of the Upolu's engines broke when off the East Cape. The damage was temporarily repaired, enabling the steamer to make about seven knots, but to ensure safety she will be toued to Wellington, leaving about 11 a.m.

When the s.s. Flora, which was due from Auckland at 1 p.m. yesterday, failed to arrive during the afternoon there was a good deal of speculation as to the cause of her delay. Unfortunately no reports were received from coastal stations as to the passing of the steamer (though she >vas sighted with a vessel in tow off Awanui at midday) ; otherwise she might have been intercepted by the Waihi with passengers and mails, A report was received from Pakarae-at 7.30 that ft steamer's lights were then visible, but when the Flora failed to appear at 9 o'clock, and was not in evidence this morning, it was thought these must, have belonged to some other vessel. The mystery was cleared up, however, when the Telegraph Office opened, by a report being received from Napier that the Flora. Had "arrived there with another vessel in tow, and subsequent advices showed that this was the Upolu, bound from Auckland to Wellington, which was picked up off the East Cape yesterday morning with tier mnehinery disabled. The Upolu having a large cargo of fruit, it was no doubt deemed advisable to tow her to Wellington with all possible speed, and that combined with the fact that there were only two ,or three passengers for Gisborne, no doubt led Captain Farmer to pass this port.