WARM TRIBUTE

Southland Times, Issue 25359, 10 August 1935, Page 6

WARM TRIBUTE

NIAGARA’S CREW PASSENGERS PRAISE THEIR CONDUCT I STORY OF COLLISION (Per United Press Association.) Auckland, August 9. The story of the Niagara’s collision on July 17 was told by passengers who by the Mariposa to-day. “It was just one of those bad luck accidents that may happen at any time,” said a Sydney merchant. “It was a few minutes after eight o’clock when the ship was three hours out from Victoria (8.C.). There was a heavy fog and both the Niagara and the ©rotor ship Port Egbert were on thencorrect courses and were blowing their sirens frequently. There was a terrific crash followed by a loud grating sound. The King Egbert struck the Niagara on the port side, shearing away a length of railing on C deck. The superstructure was damaged and several plates were buckled above the waterline. The King Egbert’s bow was severely damaged. Within two minutes the Niagara’s crew were at their- emergency stations and the boats were swung out, but it was soon seen that launching was not necessary. “No official order was given to don lifebelts, but a number of passengers did so. There was no suggestion of panic, though some of the more elderly women were badly frightened. It was fortunate that the other ship was not loaded and also that the Niagara was struck at a point where she was particularly strong. Captain Hill enjoyed the confidence of all and the conduct of the officers and the crew cannot be praised too highly.” The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth (Mr J. A. Lyons) was inclined to treat the accident lightly although the point of the impact was near his cabin. After satisfying himself that there was no serious danger he went to bed. The Niagara, her repairs completed, left Vancouver on August 1. THE SOUTHERN MAIL PROMPT DELIVERY ARRANGED. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, August 9. The accident to the mail steamer Niagara soon after leaving Vancouver on July 17 caused complications in respect to the New Zealand mails on board. There were over 2000 bags and in the ordinary course the marine post office staff would have utilized the 18 days of the Pacific voyage for a complete sorting ready for prompt delivery on arrival in New Zealand, but, as the Niagara had to be repaired, these mails were immediately sent from Vancouver to San Francisco and shipped on the Mariposa, which is landing them in Auckland to-day with a delay of only four days instead of 14. The southern portion comprising over 500 bags will reach Christchurch on Sunday morning and a special staff, including Dunedin sorters, will at once commence to prepare this for prompt delivery at all points south of Christchurch, the mails for the latter having by this time been already sorted in Wellington for the postmen’s rounds on Monday morning. A travelling post office is being attached to the express leaving Christchurch for Dunedin on Sunday night and before the train reaches its destination the mails for Dunedin will have been close sorted ready for handing to the postmen for immediate delivery on Monday morning. The mails for private boxes will be placed in them immediately the train arrives in Dunedin.

In addition, the travelling postal staff will put out at all the important towns en route, such as Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru, the mails addressed to those places and similarly prepare the Gore, Balclutha, Milton and Invercargill mails to be forwarded by the first connecting trains from Dunedin.