RETURN OF THE TOFUA

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 11 (Supplement)

RETURN OF THE TOFUA

DEPLETED COAL SUPPLY. “ EXPLANATION BY CAPTAIN. Whangarei, April 20. The Tofua, formerly the Union Steam Ship Company’s Islands steamer, arrived at the Kioreroa wharf at 12.40 p.m. today to replenish her bunker supplies. She Is en route from Auckland to Japan, via Newcastle, to be broken up. She is the second overseas vessel to berth at Kioreroa. | Considerable difficulty was experienced in gaining information from the captain and his officers. There are 51 men on board, but they are able to muster only a few words of English. In an interview with the assistance of signs, however, the captain said that he had steamed about 500 miles before he decided to return to New Zealand. Of the seven days away from New Zealand, five had been calm. During the other two days a storm was encountered, but no damage was done. The captain said the vessel was coaled with a quantity of Japanese coal, which was not of the best. With the intention of economising only two of the four boilers were used, and this made steam for only one of the two engines, and the vessel was thus proceeding on one propeller. It was thought that by this method a speed of about eight knots would be averaged, but only five knots was done. The consumption of coal a day was 35 tons, and when the vessel arrived in Kioreroa to-day there were only 50 tons in the bunkers. The effect of using only one screw was that the ship would not travel a straight course without the helm being hard against her. This permitted only half efficiency, which considerably reduced the steam power. When the Tofua arrived at the wharf to-day the Hikurangi Coal Company, Limited, had about 200 tons of coal in trucks on the wharf, and a commencement to load was immediately made by crane. The balance of the order for 450 tons will be made available as required. Water supplies are being taken on board with the assistance of the Harbour Board’s water dredge. The mail for Australia which was being carried by the Tofua was transhipped at Whangarei Heads to a launch and carried by special car to Auckland in time to catch the Monterey, which sailed at 5.25 p.m. for Sydney.

The captain intimated that it is his wish to resume his journey to Newcastle to-morrow at midday, but it is doubtful whether the coal supplies can be loaded by that time.