FOUNDERING OF WAIKOUAITI

Southland Times, Issue 23988, 1 December 1939, Page 6

FOUNDERING OF WAIKOUAITI

SHIP ABANDONED TO UNDERWRITERS PROBABLE ATTEMPT AT SALVAGE PRELIMINARY INQUIRY OPENS The Union Steam Ship Company’s intercolonial vessel Waikouaiti, which is aground at Dog Island, in Foveaux Strait, has been abandoned to the underwriters, according to a Press Association message received from Wellington last night. If the weather keeps fine, however, an attempt will probably be made to salvage some of the cargo from the after end of the ship, which is still dry. Any salvage work done will have to conserve the interests of the owners of the cargo pending instructions from them. Though' the possibility of salvaging the cargo is being examined, difficulties in the way of successful salvage operations are seen. In response to inquiries made in Wellington yesterday afternoon it was pointed out that in the first place no power was available on the Waikouaiti to facilitate the removal of the cargo, some of which would require heavy handling, and second, the practicability of getting another boat alongside the wreck was extremely doubtful. It was pointed out also that even if the cargo were successfully transferred to Dog Island the expense involved in getting it to the mainland would .be considerable. In brief, the official view does not appear to entertain very sanguine hopes of successful salvage. CARGO FOR BLUFF A considerable quantity of wire and netting is included in the cargo for Bluff. There are also 20 chests of tea, a few cases of canned pineapples and fruit salad, 20 cases of glycerine and a small amount of rice. If the cargo is lost importers who obtained licences for goods now in the ship will, in accordance with the Customs Regulations, be able to obtain new licences, although, of course, considerable delay in delivery will be caused. A preliminary inquiry into the mishap was opened yesterday by the Collector of Customs at Invercargill, Mr K. H. Smyth, who was acting on behalf of the Marine Department. Evidence was given by the ship’s officers and members of the crew who were on duty at the time. The inquiry will be completed today and the evidence forwarded to the department, which will decide whether a further inquiry is necessary. Captain W. J. King, marine superintendent for the Union Company at Dunedin, made another inspection of the Waikouaiti yesterday, and left for Dunedin by the afternoon express. Some of the crew who had been paid off also went north yesterday and others will leave today. CARGO ON BEACH Cargo washed ashore after a ship has broken up does not, become the property of the person who. finds it. Any cargo or. article belonging to or separated from a wrecked vessel and washed ashore or otherwise lost or taken from the vessel must be handed to the Collector of Customs. Failure to do so makes the person concerned liable to a heavy fine. Generally speaking when salvage is undertaken the amount of the reward is limited to the value of the property or the interest in property salved, but there are certain circumstances which affect the amount. The first consideration is the existence of danger to life arising either from the position from which the salved property has' been rescued or from the performance of the salvage service. The degree of danger from which property has been salved also has a great influence upon the amount of the reward.