WANGANELLA IN COLLISION

Southland Times, Issue 23394, 29 December 1937, Page 7

WANGANELLA IN COLLISION

Trawler Struck On Way To Melbourne LINER RETURNING TO SYDNEY DAMAGE AMIDSHIPS MAKES REPAIRS NECESSARY (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received December 28, 6.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, December 28. Advice has been received in Sydney that the Wanganella bound from Sydney for Melbourne, came into collision before dawn this morning with the trawler Durraween 18 miles off Montague Island. The Wanganella has 109 passengers on board, including 55 from New Zealand. It is believed that she was struck amidships. The damage is serious enough to compel her to return to Sydney. The Durraween was also damaged and is returning to Sydney. The Wanganella will be unable to complete her voyage to Melbourne, and arrangements are being made to take her passengers south by other services. It was stated later that the Wanganella suffered damage amidships but the full extent is not yet known. It has not been disclosed whether or not the damage is below the waterline. No casualties have been reported. The nature of the damage to the trawler has not been reported to Sydney. The commander of the Wanganella (Captain G. B. Bates) sent a radio message stating that he expected to reach Sydney at about 4 o’clock this afternoon. The Deputy-Director of Navigation (Captain Roskruge) stated that the collision occurred at 1.40 a.m.; both vessels were slightly damaged. At first it was reported that the Wanganella was standing by the Durraween, but later advice said that both were returning to Sydney. LINER RETURNS TO SYDNEY DEPARTURE FOR AUCKLAND POSTPONED (Received December 29, 12.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, December 28. The Wanganella returned to Sydney shortly after 3 pan., looking none the worse for her adventure. The Durraween, which is due about midnight, suffered hardly any damage. The Wanganella sailed at full steam to the wharf, where her Melbourne passengers were transferred to the in-ter-state liner Orungal, which sailed at 5 pan. Reticence 4s being observed about the collision, but it is understood that the damage to the Wanganella is not serious. A few plates are sprung and there is slight leaking. No .casualties occurred and the passengers were not inconvenienced. The Wanganella immediately docked, and her sailing for Auckland was postponed from December 31 to January 1. SALVAGE”OF WRECK NOT LIKELY STEAMER SAROS ON REEF SYDNEY, December 28. The salvage of the steamer Saros, which went ashore at Cape Everard, eastern Victoria, 300 miles from Melbourne, in a dense fog on Saturday night, appears to be impossible, and it is almost certain that her back will be broken. The Burwah, with the crew of the Saros on board, reached Sydney this morning. Earlier reports from Cape Everard stated that the Saros was still seesawing on a granite reef 200 yards from the Everard lighthouse, and the question of salvaging her would be determined after the arrival of the marine superintendent tonight. The coast in this area is most inhospitable and has been the scene of many wrecks.