51

H.—lsa

No. 17.—Return of Vessels surveyed for Seaworthiness— continued.

Date of Survey. Name of Vessel. Where surveyed. Nature of Casualty, &c. 1907. April 26-May 28 S.s. Inveran . . Wellington This vessel arrived in Wellington at 9.40 p.m. on the 24th April from Auckland, and anchored at the usual anchorage. The wind was blowing strong from the north-west. The port anchor was let go, and shortly afterwards the starboard one also. Although the engines were put in motion, the vessel dragged her anchors and went ashore at Point Jerningham at 10.30 p.m. On the 26th April the tugs " Duco " and " Duchess " hauled the vessel off and brought her alongside the wharf. Soundings were taken, which showed she was not making any water. The hull was examined by a diver, who found that the starboard bilge-keel was twisted and bent downwards for a length of about 10 ft. from the after end. Two of the propeller-blades were broken off near the root, the remaining two blades having lost from 1 ft. to 1 ft. 6 in. from the tip of each blade. The vessel was tipped and a new propeller fitted, enabling her to proceed to Lyttelton, where she was docked on the 15th May. An examination showed that, in addition to the above damage to the hull, the plating was bulged in between the frames; also, 240 rivets had been loosened. All the loose rivets were renewed and the other damage made good. On the passage out from England to Wellington, a length of the main steam-pipe showed a defect in one of the flanges. On the vessel's arrival in Wellington the pipe was taken ashore, and a new piece of pipe 6 in. long and a new Pope joint were fitted. The pipe was afterwards tested to 400 lb. hydraulic pressure before being put on board. While on a voyage from Ocean Island to Melbourne via Auckland and Dunedin, and when entering Otago Heads, this vessel struck the bar on the 28th May. The hull of the vessel was surveyed inside, and an examination was also made of the inner hull - plating inside the tanks. The only damage found was some of the cement broken in No. 1 tank. No damage was done to the framing or plating of the ship. This vessel was on a voyage from Auckland to Gisborne, and when about five miles from the latter port, at 1.45 p.m. on the 2nd June, the bottom flange of the lowpressure piston broke; the broken piece got in between the piston and the stuffingbox. The vessel was towed to Gisborne by the s.s. Tuatea," where the stuffingbox was repaired and the vessel enabled to steam to Napier, where a new piston was made and fitted to the satisfaction of the surveyor. While on a voyage from Wanganui to Wellington, the vessel ran on the rocks at the north end of Kapiti Island about 1.15 a.m. on the 8th June. She remained there for about twenty minutes, when she came off with her own engines, running astern. On her arrival at Wellington she was placed on the slip, where an examination of the hull on the 8th June showed that there were several dents in the garboard strake on the port side of the vessel, between the frames ; two small cracks were also found. The above damage was efficiently repaired. This vessel was proceeding from Lyttelton to Wellington on the 14th instant, when a length of the main steam-pipe developed a crack near one of the flanges. On the vessel's arrival in Wellington the defective length of pipe was taken ashore and the damage repaired. The pipe was then tested by hydraulic pressure before being placed on May 29 „ Waiwera . . Wellington May 29~Jmie 3 „ Cape Antibes Dunedin „ Squall .. Napier "une 5 lune 8 „ Huia Wellington ,, Waiwera .. rune 18 Wellington