KAPONGA STRANDED

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 131, 28 May 1932, Page 5

KAPONGA STRANDED

On The Grey Bar

WITH FULL CARGO ABOARD TUG GOES TO RESCUE (Per Press Association) GREYMOUTH, Last Night. The Union Company’s cargo steamer Kaponga, tonnage 2344 gross, 116 6 net, when sailing with a full cargo of coal this afternoon for Auckland became stranded on the Grey bar, where she now remains awaiting an effort at to-morrow morning’s tide, about 5 o’clock, to refloat her.

The depth of the bar was. 22 feet and when the Kaponga sailed she was drawing 18 feet 6 inches. She was preceded to sea at a short interval by the steamer Kalingo, which was not fully loaded, but had a good passage. Where the Kaponga struck was opposite the signal station and she subsequently moved out a distance about twice her length.

The sea was quite moderate, but the vessel’s bow was gradually veered to thenorthward by the swell and she then lay aci'oss the inner bar, there being a second bar further out.

Rudder Hanging Loose

The Harbour Board’s tug got up steam, arriving at the ship’s side three-quarters of an hour after the stranding. The Kalingo was meantimetime standing by in the roadstead, but was unable to render assistance. The tug got a line to the Kaponga’s sterm, but under the strain it broke. A crash was then heard and as the Kaponga’s stern rose the rudder was seen to be broken and hanging lose.

The Anchor steamer Titoki then left the wharf and safely negotiated the bar, passing the Kaponga’s stern. The Titoki threw out a line to be attached to the Kaponga, but the line was lost and after standing by for some time the Titoki proceeded to Westport.

The tug then retrieved the broken hawser and from the bow of the Kaponga a line was carried by boat to the tug, which then went up river, the strain serving to keep the Kaponga’s bow from veering towards the rocks on the north tip-head. Meantime word had been sent to Wellington for the Union Company’s tug Terawhiti, which is now en route and is expected to arrive in the roadstead about 5 o’clock in the morning.

Vessel Springs a Leak

The tug is maintaining the strain to keep the Kaponga from moving towards the north tip. The vessel began leaking as a result of pivoting amidships on a sandbank; but though four feet of water are reported in the fore and aft compartments, the pumps are now coping with the water. The Kaponga lies at present hard and fast across the inner bar, hei' bow pointing towards the north tiphead, which is about 50 feet distant. There fortunately is little or no sea, so that there is considered to be an even chance of refloating the vessel on the morning tide. All aboard are safe.

The position of the Kaponga showed little alteration at 10.30 p.rn., the vessel lying hard and last. Probably the hull will be somewhat strained, as the bow is down to some extent and the stern raised. The vessel’s cargo was about 2900 tons of coal.

TERAWHITI TO THE SCENE LEFT EARLY THIS MORNING (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The tug Terawhiti left for Greymouth at 1.4 5 a.m. to-day. POSITION UNCHANGED HOPES OF SALVAGE (Per Press Association) GREYMOUTH, This Day. The position of' the Kaponga was unchanged at mid-day; little being possible until the arrival of the Terawhiti. The Prospects of Salvage are considered hopeful. There is a moderate swell on the bar.

Equipped with three-cylinder triple engines and a b_..jle scx’ew, the vessel, which is about six years old is a sister ship to the Kartigi and the Kiwitea. She carries a company of 33. .The .officers are Captain Grey, Chief Officers O. E. Bevan, Second Officer W. B. Gibson, Third Officer L.

Clarke, Chief Engineer Dilner.

Kalingo Also Touched

It has been ascertained that the Kalingo, which was drawing a foot less than the Kaponga, touched and whistled vzhen she sailed about half an hour earlier. The bar at 1.30 p.m. .was sounded, Captain Gray being present, and the depth then was 13 feet, indicating 21 feet 9 inches at high water, on the peak of which the Kaponga reached the bar.