COLLISION NEAR LYTTELTON.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12499, 27 March 1909, Page 2

COLLISION NEAR LYTTELTON.

THE STORM AND THE WAKATU. THE WAKATU SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. [United Peess Association.] Lyttelton, March 26. The Maoriland Shipping Company's steamer Storm and the coastal trader Wakatu met in collision last night, about" forty miles up the coast from Lyttelton. The . Storm had sailed from Lyttelton in the evening for Wanganuij and the Wakatu was on her way from Kaikoura to Lyttelton. The night was perfectly- clear. Both vessels were in charge of mates, and each sighted the other some distance off/ '■ No one seemed to have anticipated trouble until the steamers were close together. Apparently by some error of judgment, the courses of the vessels were changed, and the Wakatu struck the stern of the Storm with her bow ; on the, starboard side. The Wakatu's bow was cut open several feet in depth, making- a largo gaping hole, fortunately well above the -wat^r linej at a height corresponding to tho .deck lme. The other vessel, the 1 Storm, iva« a stronger. structure, and. was a. little cut about.* The side above the deck was crushed down, but fortunately that did. not interfere with the steering -chains. Both vessels went ■■ad once to Lytteltoii, where they arrived early this morning. Fortunately the sea was smooth, or the Wakatu might have been in difficulties.