A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12748, 20 April 1909, Page 5

A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

The Mararoa'a Shaft Broken

(Per United Press Association).

CIIRISTCIiURCH, April 10.

This morning, while the engines of the ferry r.temner Mararoa were being examined, a startling discovery was made that the thru«t shaft was broken right aerces. There had been no previous intimation of a fracture. The vessel made good steaming time on her last run down from Wellington, the engines working well and without a hitch. She left Wellington at 11.5 p.m. on Saturday and reached Lyttelton at 11.10 a.m. yesterday. The break in the shaft is a somewhat extraordinary one. Usually a fracture in a vessel's shaft is a longitudinal or diagonal one, and in that case it is possible to put a patent coupling on, but in the case of the Mararoa it would have been impossible to have done this. It is probable that had it not been discovered this morning the break would have made its presence felt when the vessel made a start to leave the wharf. Had the vessel got away to sea before it was discovered, the break would have rendered her helpless and she would have gone adrift.

The manager of the Union Steamship Company states that the break is a very serious one and will probably keep the vessel in port for a week while a new thrust shaft is being fitted. As there is no other vessel available to-day to take up the running of the Mararoa/theTe v ill be no ferry steamer leaving Lyttelton for Wellington to-night. The Union Company has, however, made necessary arrangements to enable the ferry service to be maintained after to-day. The Waikare, leaving Wellington to-morrow night, will await the arrival of the northern express and 'will sail at 8 p.m. for Lyttelton. The Maheno, leaving Lyttelton for Wellington on Wednesday evening, •will await the arrival of the first express from Dunedin. The Pateena will leave Wellineton on Thursday night at 8 o'clock and will continue in the ferry service until the Mararoa is ready to resume running.