THE POSITION TO-DAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14237, 3 March 1917, Page 3

THE POSITION TO-DAY.

WAITING FOR THE TERAWHITI.

PUMPING OPERATIONS SUS

FENDED

Although the weather looked exceedingly unpromising last night, and for a time blew up t_u*eateningly with heavy rain showers, the position aboard the vessel appeared perfectly .secure. The steamer obtained a certain amount ot shelter from .the lee of the breakwater extension, and probably a better; position could not have been selected by the harbormaster for the beaching of the vessel. The boisterous weather was evidently more of a local nature. About 3 a.m. it blew up hard from the south for about half an hour, and the wind . piping through the rigging, produced a rather weird effect for those about on board. The squall lasted for about half an hour, and easing down worked round to the south-east.

The officials consider the vessel m a perfectly safe and secure position as long as the weather get* no worse, and a heavy southerly or south-easterly is i practically the only wind to be feared. The Arahura has now settled down on the bottom, and with the slope of the : beach the bow is m a little deeper water. . The vessel lies on a hard sandy j bottom, clear of all papa rocks, and is m an average depth of about 16ft to' 18ft of water. !

Throughout the night the stranded vessel remained quite steady, there being no movement, but with a heavy sea oomiug up the waves would break right over the bow. As it was, although the ship below is awash with water practically from stem to stern, no seas came on board last night. The water inside varies with the ris c aaid fall ot the tide, indicating that it is flowing' m through the lavatories and other openings m the ship's side. There is still a list to port, but this morning it was not as pronounced as yesterday afternoon. Inside the saloon the water at high tide last night rose on the port side covering the tops of the tables, reaching more than three-quarters of the way across the floor towards the starboard side. The salt water is also finding its way into the fresh water tanks.

Questioned on the subject this morning Captain Drvden assured our representative that the vessel was m a. safe position and was m no particular danger last night. The water was all through the ship to a depth of about 16ft, and she was resting on *ihe bottom without any movement. Under the circumstances she was really better there than afloat with the damaged side-plates and without the use of her own engine power. The crew was held m readiness to send ashore with their belongings if necessary about 10 o'clock, but the conditions did not become severe enough for this, and the Tuatea, which went out shortly after 11 o'clock, remained m attendance all night. This morning the weather had moderated considerably, and the Tuatea was lying quietly on the lee side of the vessel. The .steamer has two anchors out with full lengths of cable, and the whole of the crew remain aboard. The chief cook was expected to come out pf hospital, to-day and rejoin the ship 1 . With the bow sloping downwards this morning the hawse pipes were only three or four feet above water.

Hie failure of the pumping operations yesterday naturally occasioned some disappointment. It appears that about 1001 bof steam had been raised, and a trial was, just proceeding when a joint near the furnace door blew out and tefore the fires could be drawn several of the tjnbes were burnt through. The enpine was partly dismantled this morning, when it was decided to discard it, and the plant was sent ashore by. the Tuatea. Work wes 4 .continued aboard the .vessel until nearly 10 o'clook with the aid of artificial lighting. Additional lights were being rigged up to-day to facilitate the work when the Tcrawhiti arrives.

The -Tuatea, which remained m attendance all night, was engaged this morning/* .king m the slack on the ship's cables. One of the ship's boats, which was> danwured. probably under the counter la*t niffht. was brought ashore today. The Harbormaster's staff maintain. Ed a vigilant watch all nistht at the signl station, whilst the launch was frequently m commission again to-day.