53

H.—lsa

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

Date of Survey. Name of Vessel. Where surveyed. Nature of Casualty, &c. 1909. Jan. 7, 9 S.s. Ngatiawa Auckland On a trip to Auckland, on the 30th December, when attempting to cross the Opotiki bar, the vessel grounded on the Spit. She floated off on the 6th January, when the tides made, and upon arrival in Auckland on the 7th January was docked and surveyed. It was found that the only damage done was the loosening of a few rivets about the centre of the hull. The stern bushes had been scoured out by the action of the sand while the vessel was on the bar. New lignum-vitae was fitted into the stern bush, and other necessary repairs to the vessel were effectively carried out. Whilst proceeding from Whangarei to Auckland, on the 14th January, this vessel broke her crank-shaft through the, web of the after crank in a line with the crank-pin. A new web was made and shrunk on, the shaft straightened, and other defects made good. On the 17th January, on a voyage from Patea to Greymouth, the main steam-pipe fractured at the neck of the flange. The vessel returned to Nelson under reduced steam, where the necessary repairs to the pipe were effected. An hydraulic test of the pipe was made to double the workingpressure before being put on board. This vessel was lying at Auckland wharf on the 17th January when a fire destroyed the saloon fittings and upholstery. The fire was apparently caused by the upsetting of a kerosene-lamp in the saloon. The necessary saloon-fittings wore replaced. The hull of the vessel sustained no material damage. The owners of this vessel desired a survey to be made of the donkey boiler on board. On the 18th January a piece was blown out of the bottom of the firebox, leaving a hole 2 in. in diameter. The boiler was surveyed, when itwas found that the firebox bottom plate was very thin and defective over a large area. The outer shell-plate was also in such a condition that it would not warrant a new firebox being fitted to the boiler. A new donkey boiler was therefore put on board, and the old boiler condemned. This vessel did not have a New Zealand certificate. On the 19th January, whilst entering the Patea River on a trip from Wellington, this vessel went aground on a sandy bottom with the tide ebbing. She remained in an upright position until floated oft" next morning. • On her return to Wellington the vessel's hull was surveyed, when it was found that no damage affecting her seaworthiness had been sustained. This vessel was lying at the Queen's Wharf, Wellington, on the 24th January, when the auxiliary steam-pipe, which is also the main steam-pipe to the cold-air freezing-machine, split. The fracture extended some 3 in. around the pipe at the neck of the flange. The defective portion of the pipe was repaired. This pipe, together with the whole length of the steam-piping, was then subjected to an hydraulic-pressure test equal to double the workingpressure. The test proved satisfactory. Just after the vessel left the Bluff on her voyage to Dunedin, on the 25th January, she touched some unknown obstruction, which resulted in a leak in No. 5 water-ballast tank, and on the starboard side. A survey was made of the inside of the tank, and it was discovered that a hull-plate was cracked for a distance of 11 in. between the third and fourth floor-plates from the after end of the tank. A plate was bolted to the outside of hull-plating over the crack, and cemented up inside the tank. This made the vessel seaworthy, and she was permitted to proceed on her voyage. Whilst crossing the Tairua Bar on the 15th January, on her way to Auckland, this vessel was struck by a heavy squall which drove her on a rock. Thirteen plates on her bottom were broken. Two longitudinal wooden stringers 18 ft. by 9 in. by 6 in. and thirteen new planks of various lengths from 8 ft. to 12 ft. by Bin. by 2 in. were fitted. The whole of the bottom of the vessel was caulked, and other necessary repairs were effected at the Port of Auckland. On the 3rd February, whilst berthing alongside the Town Wharf at Wanganui, after a voyage from Westport, this vessel ran into the stern of the s.s. " Huia." The port hawse-pipe on the " Gertie" was fractured. Repairs were effected to the " Gertie " to enable the vessel to run until a new hawse-pipe was made. This has since been fitted to the satisfaction of the Surveyor. On the 22nd February, on a voyage from Kawau to Auckland, the port crank-shaft broke in No. 4 main bearing. On arrival at Auckland a survey was made, when it was found that the forging of the shaft had been faulty. The spare crank-shaft was fitted after being thoroughly examined. Auckland Jan. 15 „ Wairoa Jan. 18 .. „ Holmdale .. Neison Jan. 18 ,, Ngapuhi Auckland Jan. 19, 20.. Helga (barque) .. Wellington Jan. 25 S.s. Arapawa Wellington ,, Star of Australia Wellington Jan. 2o .. Jan. 26-27.. ,, Marama Port Chalmers .. Feb. 2, 3 Zingara (schooner) Auckland Feb. 3, 4 S.s. Gertie Wanganui Feb. 23 „ Aupouri Auckland