THREE HOLDS FLOODED

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

THREE HOLDS FLOODED

Cargo Floating About EQUIPMENT BROUGHT ASHORE The position of the Waikouaiti, which foundered on Dog Island on Tuesday night, was unchanged yesterday except that she had settled down a little more and at high tide the water covered Nos. 1 and 2 hatches. In the afternoon the pilot launch went out and brought off the ship s wireless gear, which was recently installed in Sydney at a cost of about £9OO. Most of the ship’s stores and a good deal of portable equipment on the decks were brought ashore, also two boxes of valuable plants consigned to Dunedin and carried as deck cargo. Another trip was made last night and more of the ship’s gear salvaged. Nos. 1,2 and 2A holds, as well as the engine-room, are now flooded. The canvas and hatches of No. 2 hold have broken asunder and cargo from this hold is beginning to float out. There was evidently a consignment of Christmas toys in this hold because yesterday afternoon hundreds of kewpie dolls were to be seen floating round the ship. The hardwood piles on No. 1 hatch began to loosen and it is understood that steps will be taken to unload them should they be in danger of coming adrift, as they might be a menace to shipping. If the logs are buoyant the method of salvaging them will probably be to form them into a raft and tow them to port. This morning an attempt is to be made in an oyster boat to get the more valuable cargo off the ship. It is understood that arrangements have been made to guard against pilfering. The Bluff Waterside Workers’ Union held a special meeting yesterday afternoon and decided to work the vessel as a salvage job if requested to do so. The question of the wages to be asked was left with the executive. It was stated that the watersiders who worked the Port Bowen, which went ashore at Wanganui, received 8/- ah hour. As the salvage work for the Waikouaiti was considered likely to be more hazardous it is thought that a higher rate of wages will be asked.

The wind last night was from the east-south-east and was freshening. It is thought that a wind from that quarter will not affect the vessel to any great extent