LUCKY ESCAPE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19519, 29 December 1937, Page 5

LUCKY ESCAPE

SAVED BY BULKHEAD IN COLLISION RETURN TO SYDNEY DOCK TRANSFER OF PASSENGERS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 29, 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 29. Following her collision with the trawler Durraween, 18 miles off Montague Island at 1.40 o’clock yesterday morning, the Wanganella, which was en route from Sydney to Melbourne, returned to' Sydney shortly after 3 p.m., looking none the worse for her adventure. The Wanganella has been docked, and her sailing for Auckland postponed from December 31 to January 3. She had 108 passengers aboard, including 58 from New Zealand. Some of the Melbourne passengers were transferred to the inter-State liner Orungal, which sailed at 5 p.m. The Wanganella was struck a glancinb blow on the starboard side immediately below the forward funnel. Two strakes above the waterline and two below were severed. Nine plates were dented or buckled. Water entered between the damaged plates, but the pumps were able to cope with the surge.

Repairs by Engineer Temporary repairs were made by the chief engineer, Mr. Wylie, who was lowered over the side. He bolted two plates along the upper damaged strake. The Wanganella stood by the Durraween for some time and then altered her course back to Sydney over 180 miles. The Durraween is reported to have been holed and the forepeak is leaking. Mr. T. W. Parker, the manager of the Huddart, Parker Company, said the company regarded the damage to the Wanganella as negligible, and there was never at any time cause for anxiety. • When the collision occurred about 1.40 a.m., visibility was normal, although some passengers assert that it was misty. The force of the impact hurled six stewards from their bunks immediately above the point of collision. A number of passengers hurried on deck to ascertain the cause. They were immediately assured that there was no danger, but it was some time before the excitement died down, and quite a number preferred not to return to their bunks. Fortunately there was a relatively calm sea and the night was warm. Thus no discomfort was experienced by the passengers. Passengers Change Plans When the Wanganella reached her berth at Sydney only 44 of the 108 passengers resumed the voyage to Melbourne by the Orungal.'Some elected to go by the night train and some eliminated Melbourne from their holiday itinerary. No cause so far has been assigned to the collision, but the view is expressed that the presence of drifting and badly lighted trawlers in the track of the regular inter-State liners up and down the coast constitutes a menace to shipping. Marine authorities are of the opinion that the Wanganella had a lucky escape. She was practically saved by a heavy bulkhead. The Durraween, whose master is Captain Samuel Mills, carries' a crew of 12. " ' v ’ #

Messrs. E. J. and Ernest Chrisp, of Gisborne, were passengers aboard the Wanganella, en route for Melbourne.