SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13279, 7 May 1907, Page 5

SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

PERILS TO HARBOUR NAVIGATION. United Press Association—Per Electric ■' ■ • ADELAIDE, May 6; The pilot launch went out to warn the Port Chalmers (which struck the submerged hulls of the Norma and Jessie Darling), but the signals were not noticed, or disregarded till too late. The steamer's plates were rent for 10 'fast from the stern below the water-lihei 'The fore-peak is full of water. '■'".:.-. STRANDING OF THE CROMETON. MELBOURNE, M% 6. Advices have been', received . that the barque Crompton, from Melbourne to Queeri§town, with 2700 tons of wheat, has been beached at Queenstowri. -Hei- position is critical. Her decks are awash at high water. The disaster was diie to the barque sitting on her anchor.

MOKOIA'S CARGO '.ON- FIRE. ■ OUTBREAK AMONG FLAX. Per Press Association DUNEDIN, May 6. A quantity of tow shipped at Wellington on-Friday last was found to i he on fire in the hold of the Mokoia, shortly after 'midnight. The trouble was discovered when the lumpers"-took the liatches off in order to commence the discharge of cargo. ■-. It is stated that rain was falling when the tow was taken on board at Wellington, which would enhance the liability to cause spontaneous combustion: The fire brigade were summoned, and speedily extinguished the fire. The fire took four hours to suppress. The fore hold contained 1200 bales 1 of tow and flax, . the : principal shippers' being' Levin and C 0.," Paterson and Co., and Kaye and Carter, of Wellington. The ship's hose was playing within three minutes of the discovery of' the fire. Two hours' work failed "to locate, the immediate region of the outbreak, so, it was determined to flood the lower portion-of the hold'altogether. With this end in view 3000 tons, of water, were poured 'into the ship, the water rising to a depth of 12 feet 6 inches in the hold. When the fire was •extinguished, the work of pumping out. the hold was carried on by the crew, but at noon when the left for Port Chalmers she still had eight feet of water below. The damage done to the vessel is trifling, some of the woodwork on the top deck being burned. A general average ..of 5 per cent, was- collected on the cargo to-day. "The insurances on the latter are unknown. . NAUTICAL ENQUIRY. WELLINGTON, May 6. An inquiry into the stranding of the steamer Inveran,, 2835 tons, at Point J-er-ningham, Wellington Harbour, during a storm on the night of ; April 24th, was held to-day before Di-McArthur, with him Captains Anderson and Gray, nautical assessors, and Mr N. C- Ivempton, engineerassessor.

Captain Marshall, the master of-'--the vessel, deposed that he anchored at 5.40 in 11£ fathoms, taking the usual bearings and precautions. At- 10.15 he let go another anchor as the vessel was sheering. Twenty minutes later the, vessel commenced to drag. Sent word for steam to be put on the engines, and going on the bridge telephoned full speed ahead. ..The engines started almost immediately; but before they took effect the ship touched ground. They must have /drifted half a mile.

Counsel: To what do you attribute the Inveran going ashore? Witness : To the fact that there was too much wind for our anchors.

Captain Johnston, harbourmaster, stated that the 45 fatlioms of chain let out was not enough. Ninety fathoms should have been used. ''.--..

Edward Dorward, the chief engineer, stated that only a few seconds intervened between the order go ahead and the moving of the ' engines. The Court gives its decision to-morrow.