SALVAGE WORK SUSPENDED

Southland Times, Issue 23990, 4 December 1939, Page 6

SALVAGE WORK SUSPENDED

W aikouaiti’s Holds Awash BIG CROWD SEES WRECK Vessel Settled Firmly • On Rocks Salvage operations were again carried out on the Waikouaiti on Saturday but at 3 o’clock in the afternoon they were suspended because seas were breaking over the ship. No salvage was undertaken yesterday. The holds are full of water and much of the cargo is floating about. It is thought that what remains of the cargo will be saturated or damaged by sea-water. Drums of oil, timber and general cargo were salvaged on Saturday. The lost cargo includes a big quantity of cream of tartar. The position of the ship on the rocks at Dog Island is much the same except that she is lower in the water and at high tide the seas are over the boatdeck. Last night a big sea was running from the west. There was little movement in the vessel, however, and it is thought that she has settled firmly on the rocks. Interest in the wreck by the general public was reflected in the big crowd which visited Bluff yesterday to get a sight of the helpless vessel. It is estimated that more than 300 car loads of sightseers -were at Stirling Point during the day. Visibility was good and an excellent view of the wreck was obtained. MEN WORK IN LIFEBELTS Not as much cargo as was secured on Friday was salvaged on Saturday. The men engaged on the job did excellent work in difficult conditions, however, for during the last half-hour the sea was washing across the deck and the men were forced to wear lifebelts. The company is now calling for tenders for the salvage of the cargo and the ship’s gear. The first load of cargo salvaged on Saturday was brought to _ Bluff by the launch Pearl with a lifeboat in tow and the trawler Marina arrived two hours later with the other lifeboat. The cargo was immediately unloaded on to the wharf and the Pearl left with both lifeboats and the chief officer of the Waikouaiti, Mr W. A. Todd. Work continued until 3.30 when seas began to break over the stern and Mr Todd gave orders for the men, who had donned lifebelts, to leave the ship. When the men left the ship cargo was floating out of the hatches forward of the bridge. ‘ - The pinnacle compass was one of the last items salvaged. This compass is situated on the “monkey bridge” above the navigating bridge. It was passed aboard the Marina just as the trawler was leaving on its last trip.