STRUCK A SNAG

Southland Times, Issue 21197, 25 September 1930, Page 8

STRUCK A SNAG

COASTAL STEAMER SUNK

PASSENGERS SAFELY REACH SHORE QUANTITY OF CARGO LOST (Per United Press Association.) Thames, September 24. Striking a snag at 4,30 this morning in a heavy fog, the Northern Steamship Company’s coastal steamer Taniwha en route from Auckland to Paeroa just got to Puriri wharf before she sank. When seen by a reporter this morning, Captain Freeman said that the vessel left Auckland about midnight and in the usual way arrived at the mouth of the Waihou. Going up on the tide she landed mails at Turua and left the wharf at 5.20 a.m. bound for Puriri where she had a passenger to land. After leaving Turua the vessel steamed up the river and at 5.35 a.m. ran into a heavy fog bank which stretched from bank to bank. ’The order was at once given to reduce speed and the pace was reduced to a crawl. Just as the vessel was abreast of Puriri beacon at 5.40 she struck what appeared to be a snag heavily. At once it was thought that something serious had occurred for the crew could hear water rushing in. The vessel which at once began to settle by the bows, was hurried to Puriri wharf where she was made fast. By the time the captain was able to get on the wharf structure the vessel had sunk and was resting on the mud. All haste was made to send out mooring lines fore and aft to the wharf and also to the banks, and she was made secure in an upright position. In the meantime, the tide was rising rapidly and being a strong spring tide, filled the holds at once.

As she lies this morning the Taniwha is well down by the stern and full right up to the deck. The engine room is llooded and so is the whole vessel in all holds. Before the boat went down it was found possible to land the two-year-old racehorse Hunting Horn returning after running at the Avondale races. As long as it was possible to maintain a head of steam the crew busied themselves landing as much of the cargo as possible, but finally the water drove the stokehold gang out, rising very rapidly and putting out the fires. About 100 tons of cargo were aboard consigned to Paeroa and Puriri as well as other landings up the river. Much of it was fuel and oil, but a quantity of perishable goods for several stores in the district was practically all under water. The crew lost the whole of their bedding and belongings, it being impossible to save much. Captain J. Freeman has been in command of the Taniwha for the last 16 years, having taken over at the outbreak of the war. This is the first time he has been involved in any loss. W. Stone, chief engineer on watch at the time of the catastrophe, stated that the inrush of water was very rapid, only ten minutes elapsing from striking the snag to the sinking of the ship. As she lies at present the Taniwha has her bows pointing downstream. It is thought that the hole which caused the sinking is in the port bow. With the exceptionally high tide expected to-day the chances are that the decks will be under water. In the meantime, little will be done until the arrival of representatives of the underwriters. The Taniwha is a screw steamer of 263 tons gross which has been trading around the locality for a number of years.