THE INDRABARAH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 305, 17 May 1913, Page 5

THE INDRABARAH

SALVAGE OPERATIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, Friday. The tug Terawhiti left Castlecliff at L 7 a.m. to-day, when the sea was fairly calm, for the stranded, Indrabarah, in order to put out anchors in preparation for the attempt to refloat the steamer, ' I which will be made at the first opportunity. Since the tug left here, a wind from the south-south-east has sprung up with every prospect of increasing and causing the sea to become too rough for the tug to carry out its work. BATTLESHIP IDEA SCOUTED. Palmerston North, Friday. An ex-naval, oil'ieer,. entitled by long experience to speak with authority, says the idea of using the battle cruiser to tow oil' the Indrabarah is quite hniiracticable. Captain Halscy is not likely to imperil his fine ship by too close approach to the coast, mid even if he did not cable would stand the strain. Then! are numerous tugs in the Dominion that could break any hawser easily, without exertiiii; the enormous power of the battle •.:ruis , .;r. She would not be able to approach nearer than four cable lengths of the wreck, and as each cable is 100 fathoms long, the mere weight of the line would be considerable, apart from the strain of the tug. The idea of using the battle cruiser is not worth serious thought. THE SURVEYOR'S REPORT. Wellington, Last Night. Mr. Arch. Walker, Lloyds' surveyor, returned to Wellington to-day from the Indrabarah, and has furnished a confidential report to Lloyds' agent in Wellington (Dalgety & Co.). It is understood that the vessel is making no water, that her cargo is intact, and that her refrigerating machinery is working satisfactorily. It is further understood that the surveyor's report is favorable. On Monday the tide will be high spring. Mrs. Walker says that the vessel is lying in what the local fishermen call the "deep hole," and is not yet too far inshore. At the top of high water she is on an even keel, and on the move. If the salvage people are prepared to wait, after getting out mushroom anchors to keep the ship in her present position, he is convinced she can be got off on the spring tide a fortnight hence. The imperishable cargo can easily be landed in the vicinity, thus considerably lightening the vessel, Captain Plunket, of Auckland, has been appointed to watch the operations on behalf of th<* London Salvage Association.