WAHINE HITS WHARF.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19726, 5 June 1936, Page 2

WAHINE HITS WHARF.

MISHAP THIS MORNING.

Fog Over Harbour.

EXPRESS STEAMER DAMAGED.

MARAMA COMMISSIONED. irSy Telegraph.—Piesa Association>. WELLINGTON, June 5. The express steamer Waiime, which arrived from Lyttelton this morning, suffered a mishap in running into the Pipitea Wharf. There was a dense fog in the harbour when the Wahine came in.

The mishap places two of the most modern ships in the ferry service, the Rangatira, which was badiy damaged on February 2, and tho Wahine, both out of commission.

The Union Company is meeting the exigency by placing in service at a moment’s notice the Pacific mail steamer Marama, which has been laid up at Wellington for a considerable time. The Marama takes over the Wahine’s running to-night, leaving Wellington at 10 o’clock, and she will continue in the servico till further notice.

The Pipitea Wharf is a modern ferro-concrete structure. The Wahine apparently has penetrated it to some depth and is herself damaged. She was freed shortly before noon by cutting away the concrete structure by means of acetylene torches. The passengers were landed soon after the mishap by a gangway from the bow.

Ship’s Plates Riven.

Torn, splintered piles, and powdered concrete testified to the terrific impact that occurred when thß Wahine was groping her way in tho dense fog and struck the wharf shortly before 7 o’clock. The main reinforced concrete portion of tho wharf withstood the collision, but the steel plates of the under-part of the vessel’s bow were riven sheer, leaving the Wahine’s nose on tho wharf for a distance of 20ft. When it was seen that the crash was imminent, both rudders wero brought into commission but too lato to avert the calamity. The 4436-ton steamer was halted with a protracted grindiug impact and she shuddered for fully 30 seconds. The overseas vessel Canadian Constructor was berthed at the same wharf about 100yds away, and it was fortunate that a more gravo mishap did not occur. At the first startling jolt the passengers were tossed in their cabins, and many ran to the deck in dress-ing-gowns. Some who had been sleeping did not know whether or not the vessel was still at sea. There was no- hint of panic, however, and everything was done to assist the ship’s officers. Two tugs, the Terawhaiti and tho Toa, the first pushing and the second pulling from the stern, strained for about four hours but succeeded in moving the vessel only a foot. Oxy-acetylene lamps were finally employed to cut away tho further portions of the plates, and .the steamer was freed and was berthed at Fryatt Quay. The Wahine will not be docked immediately, as the floating dock is at present occupied and will remain occupied for about another week by the Kalingo, which was damaged at Grevmouth on May 24.

The Wahine is not making water, and as far as is known is not damaged below the waterline.