TWIN SCREWS WANTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7238, 26 October 1901, Page 4

TWIN SCREWS WANTED.

Happily, the accident to the Monowai was attended l>y no serious consequences. *Che machinery broke down -When the vessel "jras some distance from land, and' assisttnce was obtained while yet the steamer was in mid-ocean. But we tremble wheni we think what might have happened if Vha* assistance ihadi not arrived when h> did. The , statement of her commaiadieT shows that tlhe Monowai was literally afc "the mercy of the wind and current. It is true that she hoisted sails, but almost without any appreciable effect. She Avas not even steadied by them, and all that can be said is that ehe drifted a trifle faster than- she would otherwise have done. It is not unreasonable to assume that, had she net sighted the Mokoia or some other passing vessel, She might at least have drifted perilously ntar the coast, even if she 'had not actually struck it. It is quite evident, if she Jj'ad g>on® utihore, tikab 3*er passeng^ais trad crew would feive been in. grave danger. Fortunately, as we have said already, the incident passed off after iuflicting nothing mure than a littl© inconvenience Upon the Monowai's company, a«d causing • : tome anxiety to their friends on sliorc. But neither inconvenience nor anxiety need fcave been suffered if the Monowai had been , fitted with twin screws:. She would have been able to reach port without pay difficulty, and her passengers would <re now iave been safely landed at theii? destination. Some day, possibly, the Board of i'rade will take upon itself to insist that Jvery steamer that is built .«JmiU be- twintcrcwed. Then avc shall hear of no more (ccidents like these which befel the Waitato, the Perthshire and tlie Monowai.