LAST OF THE CORINNA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 419, 10 November 1930, Page 7

LAST OF THE CORINNA

SUNK IN COOK STRAIT [ Per Press Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. 9. The Corinna, an obsolete passenger and later a cargo vessel, of 1319 tons, belonging to the Union Btcam Ship Company, was yesterday towed into Cook Strait and sunk with a charge that blow a hole in her aottorn. The vessel was first stripped of the remainder of her fittings and furnishings of value, that had not boon removed from her since last New Year’s Eve, on which date she was withdrawn from the run between Dunedin and Now Plymouth. The main mast was still in an excellent state of preservation. Metal also was removed. She was then towed by the tug Terawhiti to a point in Cook Strait, 20 miles from Wellington and five miles from land, w’hich was beyond the 100 fathoms area required by regulations. Ninety lbs. of dynamite were placed under the Corinna’s boilers and exploded electrically by wires from the Terawhiti. Tho explosion must have blown a hole of considerable size in her bottom, because her stern upended and she slid under the water in nine minutes. Groat difficulty was experienced in carrying out the work of destruction, as in heavy seas, a strong wind and rain came out of a clear sky to battei the Terawhiti against the sides of tht Corinna, as if the elements disapprovec of the annihilation of the old vessel