PORT OF BLUFF.

Southland Times, Issue 22043, 16 June 1933, Page 2

PORT OF BLUFF.

ARRIVED. —Thursday, June 15. — Kiwitea s.s. (Captain G. A. Grey) 2343 tons from Dunedin at 1.35 a.m. Waipiata s.s. (Captain W. A. Gray) 2826 tons from Dunedin at 1.40 p.m. Matal G.s. (Captain J. Burgess) 1049 tons from Southern Lighthouses at 3.40 p.m. SAILED. —Thursday, June 15.— Northumberland s.s. (Captain H. L. Upton, D.S.C.. R.D., R.-N.R.) 11,555 tons for Tlmaru at 7.30 a.m. , , , Paua m.v. (Captain D. R. Paterson) 1,260 tons for Wellington at 1 pm. Kiwitea, s.s. (Captain G. A. Grey), 2343 tons for Westport at 8.30 p.m. VESSELS IN PORT. Waipiata s.s. Matai G.s. EXPECTED ARRIVALS. Waikouaiti, Oamaru, to-day. Matai, Lighthouse stations, to-day. Wainui, Melbourne,. June 19. Coptic, Timaru. June 20. Otira, Napier, June 23. Storm. Lyttelton, June 24. Wainui, Wellington, June 26. Port Pirie. England, June 29. Turakina, Port Chalmers, July 6. Akaroa, Lyttelton, July 6. Kiwitea. Hobart, July 15. PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Tees, Auckland, to-day. Waipiata, Dunedin, to-day. Waikouaiti, Sydney, to-morrow. Matai, Puysegur, June 19. Wainui, Dunedin, June 19. Coptic, Wellington, June 21. Storm, Dunedin, June 24. Wainui, Melbourne, June 26. Otira, Napier, June 26. Port Pirie, Port Chalmers, June 30. Turakina, Oamaru, July 8. Akaroa, Port Chalmers, July 10. Kiwitea, Dunedin, July 15. INWARD CARGO ON HAND. Cathay ex Wainui (W.S. and Co.). City of Cambridge ex Wainui in B shed (J.G.W.) Kia Ora. railed from Dunedin in A shed (D. and Co.). Moldavia ex Wainui (W. S. & Co.). Mataroa, railed from Dunedin, in A shed Orari, ex steamer, in B shed (J.G.W.) Port Dunedin, railed from Dunedin in A ahed (Hend.). Tamaroa, ex Calm and Waipiata in B shed (N.M.A.). Wainui, ex Mooltan, in B shed (D. and Co.). (D. and Co.): Dalgety and Company. (Hend.): Henderson and Company. (H.L.T.): H. L. Tapley and Company, (J.G.W.): J. G. Ward and Company. (N.M.A.): National Mortgage and Agency Company. (N.Z.S.): New Zealand Shipping Company. (U.S.S.): Union Steam Ship Company. (W.S. and Co.): Wright, Stephenson and Company. GENERAL NOTES. The launch Pegasus arrived from Stewart Island at 7.50 a.m. yesterday. The Britannia left for Stewart Island yesterday at 10.30 a.m. As expected, the Federal Line steamer Northumberland finished her Southland loading on Wednesday night and sailed, early yesterday morning for Timaru. The Union Company’s steamer Kiwitea arrived from Dunedin early yesterday morning. She discharged a quantity of coal and afterwards loaded timber and was expected to sail last night for Westport and Greymouth. From the latter she sails for Melbourne and South Australian ports. The same company's Waipiata reached Bluff from Dunedin early yesterday afternoon and began discharging general cargo. She loads for her usual northern ports and is timed to sail this afternoon for Dunedin. X The intercolonial steamer Waikouaiti is due to-day from Oamaru to take in cargo and mails for Australia. She sails for Sydney to-morrow. The Shell Oil Company’s tanker finished discharging yesterday and left shortly after mid-day to return to Wellington. After tending the southern lighthouses, the Government steamer Matai returned to Bluff yesterday to load stores for Puysegur and Milford. She saiis from Bluff on Monday. The Union Company's Waikouaiti was to clear Oamaru last evening for Bluff, where she is due this evening. The vessel is to sail to-morrow for Sydney. The Union Steam Ship Company advise that the Wainui is to clear Melbourne at 4 p.m. on Wednesday for Bluff, where she is due on Monday morning. The vessel is carrying transhipments ex the Hatimaru, Corfu, Tudor, Otranto, Maloga, Esquilano, Otira, Nieuw Holland and Taiping. The motor vessel Coptic having been delayed at Gisborne, is now expected to arrive at Bluff from Timaru on Tuesday morning. The Federal Company’s Cumberland was to leave Wellington on Saturday for London, ’ Avonmouth, Liverpool and Glasgow, via Montevideo and Dakar. In ballast for New Zealand, via the Cape o£ Good Hope and Australia, the Commonwealth and Dominion Line steamer Port Victor is expected to arrive at New Plymouth on Monday. She will also load for the United Kingdom at Wellington and Auckland. She will clear Auckland finally on June 30 for London, via Cape Hom. The New Zealand Shipping Company’s motor liner Rangitane is scheduled to leave London on June 29 with passengers and mall for New Zealand, and cargo for discharge at Auckland and Wellington. She is due at Auckland on August 2. Under the auspices of the A. and A. Line, the steamer City of Singapore is announced to leave New York on August 22 with cargo for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. For the 12 months ended February 28 last, 55,650,019 net registered tons of ships entered and left the Port of London.' This is more than the combined total shipping tonnage that used the next two largest United Kingdom ports, viz. Liverpool at 31.632,560 n.r.t., and Southampton at 23,852.046 n.r.t. Since September last there has been a gradual diminution in the volume of laidup tonnage in the port of Hamburg. The monthly figures from September 1, 1932, to February 1, 1933, both inclusive, are as follows:—183 vessels of 764,228 gross tons; 147 of 657,939 tons; 137 of 642,073 tons; 142 of 611,936 tons; 145 of 568,693 tons; and 146 of 542,108 tons. WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE. The following vessels were within range of the undermentioned wireless stations yesterday:— Auckland: Canadian Challenger, Canonesa, H.M.S. Dunedin, H.M.S. Laburnum, Karetu, Mariposa. Niagara. Remuera, Savorgnan De Brazza, Triona, Waipahi, Wirral. Wellington: Cornwall, Cumberland, Helmspey, Kartigi, Maimoa, Maori, Marama, Monowai, Monterey, Otira, Pakeha, Port Alma, Port Fairy, Rangatira, Rangitlki, Tamahine. Awarua: City of Toklo, Coptic, Makura, Matai, Maunganui, Northumberland, Paua, Port Victor, Tamaroa, Waikouaiti, Wainui. Chatham Islands: Nil.

SOLD TO EASTERN BUYERS. CARGO CARRIER WAITOMO. INCIDENTS IN SHIP’S CAREER. Advice received from Auckland states that the "Union Company’s freighter Waltomo. which has been laid up off Orakei (Auckland Harbour) for nearly five years, has been sold to Eastern ■ buyers. The Auckland office of the company has not yet been advised whether the ship is to go to China or to Japan. One of the largest of the Union Company’s coastal and Intercolonial cargo carriers, the Waitomo was built at Newcastle-on-Tyne by the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company and was launched in 1911. She was originally known as the Gifford, but when purchased by the Union Company her name was changed to Waitomo. A vessel of 4214 tons gross, she was chiefly engaged in the Newcastle coal trade. The ship also made a number of voyages to Nauru and Ocean Islands for cargoes of phosphate —a trade that is now carried chiefly by chartered British tonnage. One of the most exciting Incidents in the Waitomo’s career occurred in the winter of 1928, when the ship broke her tail shaft while bound from Newcastle to Bluff with a full cargo of coal. A terrific racing of the engine on the morning of July 23 was the first warning that the crew received, and the ship immediately lost way and began to drift before a heavy sou’-west gale. The position of the freighter at the time was approximately 430 miles west of Westport. SOS messages were sent out, and the Union Company made hasty arrangements for the picking up of the helpless vessel. Kaitoke to the Rescue. It so happened that at the time of the Waitomo’s breakdown the Kaitoke, another Union freighter, was at Westport, and this vessel was ordered to go to the rescue of the crippled ship. By the aid of wireless and capable navigation, th Kaitoke had no difficulty in locating her sister, and on the evening of July 25, 60 hours after the breaking of the tail shaft, the Waitomo was taken in tow.

During the two and a-half days that the Waitomo was drifting, her officers and *rew experienced an anxious time. Heavy seas were running, and as the ship was fully loaded, seas continually broke on board. It was only with difficulty and at considerable danger that the crew were able to move about the decks, but the men were comforted by the knowledge that with every hour the Kaitoke, steaming at full speed, was coming nearer. Throughout the afternoon of the day that the drifting vessel was picked up, the eyes of the crew eagerly searched the horizon for the smudge of smoke that would signal the coming of the relief vessel, but it was not until after dark that the Kaitoke arrived.

No great difficulty was experienced in establishing communication between the Kaitoke and the Waitomo, and after a tow line, consisting of 770 ft. of anchor cable and steel wire hawser, had been rigged, the voyage to Auckland was begun. On the following day the weather became worse, and the length of the tow line was increased by an extra 100 ft. of steel hawser. A raging easterly gale was encountered. and at times the Waitomo’s bow was buried under water. During the storm the tow proceeded at a rate of only slightly more than two knots, but as the conditions improved, better progress was made. Repaired but Laid Up. It was on the evening of August 3, 11 days and a-half after the breaking of her tail shaft, that the Waitomo was towed to Auckland. As soon as she came round North Head she was taken in charge by two tugs and brought to her berth. After discharge of her coal cargo the steamer was dry docked and a irw tail shaft was fitted. With her repairs completed, the Waitomo was ready for sea again, but she was destined not to re-enter her old trade. At that time the shipping companies were beginning to feel the first pinch of the depression, and it was decided that the freighter should be laid up. Accordingly she was taken to an anchorage in the harbour, and she has remained there ever since. Details of the Waitomo’s future will probably be made public this week, when a representative of her new owners will reach Auckland from Sydney. The announcement of the sale of the Waitomo comes at a time when another ex-Union Company steamer which spent nearly two years in idleness, the Kurow, is being overhauled at the Western Viaduct preparatory to going East. The Kurow, which in future will be known as the Mabel Moller, is now owned by the Moller Line, of Shanghai, China. She is expected .to sail on Friday. No fewer than 13 Union Company freighters have been acquired by Eastern buyers during the past few years. The Waipori, Whangape, Karori. Koromiko, Kittawa, and Kauri were all sold in 1928, the Kaitangata and Kaiapoi in 1929, the Kltuna and Kamona in 1931, and the Waitemata, Kurow

TELEGRAPHED REPORTS. COASTAL AND OVERSEAS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Auckland, June 15. Arrived: Port Waikato (12.30 p.m.) from Picton. Sailed: Dunedin (11.40 a.m.) for Norfolk Island, Wellington, June 15. Arrived: Calm 6.20 a.m., Maori 7 a.m. and Holmdale 7.5 a.m. from Lyttelton; Rotorua 8 a.m. from London; Totara 9.30 a.m., Wingatui 10.10 a.m. and Canadian Cruiser 11.5 a.m. from Lyttelton; Marama 1.30 p.m. from Auckland. Sailed: Holmdale 3.10 p.m. and Calm 5 p.m. for Picton; Maori 7.50 p.m. for Lyttelton. Lyttelton, June 15. Arrived: Rangatira 6.55 a.m. and Kartigi 12.25 p.m. from Wellington; Poolta 7.15 a.m. from Timaru. Sailed: Poolta 4 p.m. and Rangatira 8.30 p.m. for Wellington. Dunedin, June 15. Arrived: Tamaroa, 9 a.m., for Lyttelton; Opihi, 5.30 p.m., from Wellington. Sailed: John, 5.15 p.m., for Timaru. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Sydney, June 15. Arrived: Mabel Moller from Auckland.