MISHAP TO S.S. MAORI.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13102, 16 June 1913, Page 3

MISHAP TO S.S. MAORI.

PROPELLER BLADE BROKEN. j

THE NIWARU'S WIRELESS CALLS

(Per Press Association.) j CHRISTCHURCH.. last night, j The turbine ferry steamer Maori was nearly half an hour late m arriving at Lyttelton from Wellington on Satinday morning. Inquiries made on board ; showed that the vessel had "cast" a ' blade from Iter centre propeller alxui 2.45 a.m., when about 10 miles north of Cheviot. The vessel had been steaming • well and was a little ahead of time, j The first indication of the accident was a sudden jar to the ship, which woke up all the passengers, and which was k>_- | lowed by excessive vibration, owing to ■■ the propeller revolving at high speed j with only two blades left, 'ihe high ' pressure turbine driving the daniagvd i propeller was eased down to stop lhe vibration, and the vessel came on lj ! port at 15 knots. She was docked at < 11 'o'clock, and it was found that thu ' blade had snapped off close to the bo; a. A new propeller was fitted, and the vessel was floated out and sailed last night. • CHRISTCHURCH, this day. j When the Maori cast her propeller blade on Saturday morning she communicated by Morse lamp with the Niwaru, asking for a wireless message to be sent to Lyttelton. The captain of the Niwaru states that his operator tried to call Wellington at 3.25 a.m., and continued till 4.10, but failed, though he could hear Wellington talking to H.M.S. Pyramus and the Paparoa. The ' Niwaru got Wellington at 5.30, and ; was then assured that her earlier sig- ' nals had been answered, but that there was no means of communicating with Lyttelton or Christchurch till 8 o'cloc';. The captain of the .Niwaru declares his intention of having the matter investigated, particularly the alleged failure of Wellington to acknowledge his call at 3.25 a.m