Et.—lsa.

No. 19.—Return of Vessels surveyed for Seaworthiness — continued.

67

Date of Survey. Name cf Vessel. Where surveyed. Nature of Casualty, &c. 1911. Deo. 28, 30.. 1912. Jan. 3, 6. 9 S.s. Kumara .. Wellington Wellington On the 24th December, 1911, when proceeding from Dunedin to Gisborne, it was discovered that the furnace-crowns of the after starboard boiler had come down. It was decided to come to Wellington for repairs. An examination was made of the furnaces, when it was found that the starboard and centre furnaces were down 4| in. and 5 in. respectively. The port furnace was also down a little. A further examination was made of the other boilers, when it was found that the centre furnace of the centre after - boiler was down 1\ in. The examination of the furnaces showed that they had been overheated by an accumulation of scale in the boilers. The furnaces were set back to their original form, and the boilers were afterwards tested to 270 lb. hydraulic pressure. Whilst lying at the Lyttelton Wharf, on the 8th January, 1912, it was noticed that a portion of the main steam-pipe of this vessel had worn thin in two places, through the vibration of the pipe where suspended in the hangers. Two small patches were brazed over the thin places, and the pipe was afterwards tested to 360 lb. hydraulic pressure. During the voyage of this vessel from Lyttelton to Wellington, on the 8th January, 1912, at 8-45 p.m., it was discovered that the thrust-block was fractured, the vessel being then about thirty miles from Lyttelton. The vessel returned to Lyttelton under easy steam. The thrustbearing was repaired by fitting a flanged plate round the end of bearing and bolting it over the broken part. On the 11th January, 1912, this vessel was lying at the Glasgow Wharf when a defect was noticed in a length of the main steam-pipe, where it had chafed against the hanger. A small patch was brazed over the thin place on the pipe, and the pipe was afterwards tested to 360 lb. hydraulic pressure. This vessel was proceeding from Lyttelton to Dunedin, on the 13th January, 1912, and when off Akaroa Peninsula the H.P.-cylinder finer became loose. On examination it was found that the studs which held the liner in position were broken. Temporary repairs were effected, and on the vessel's arrival in Dunedin a ring was fitted between the cylinder-cover and liner and secured to the liner by pinning. This kept the liner securely in position. On the 27th January, 1912, on a trip from Greymouth to Gisborne, when off Farewell Spit, the circulating-pump foot-valve carried away. The thread on the valve-seat had become worn and eventually stripped. After the accident the bucket was drawn and the donkey-pump used for circulating the water. The vessel came on to Wellington for repairs, where a new valve-seat was made and fitted. On the 21st January, 1912, this vessel was leaving Westport for Lyttelton, when a strong tide caused her to sheer and touch the end of the east half-tide training-wall at Westport. The hull on the port side was damaged, several plates were dented, a number of rivets were started, and the rolling-chock was bent. The vessel was docked at Port Chalmers, when the following repairs were carried out : On B strake 3 ft. of the seam was caulked, on C strake five rivets were renewed, the butt-strap on the after length of the rolling-chock was reriveted, and the broken cement in fore-bilges was renewed. As this vessel was crossing the Karamea Bar, on a trip to Wellington, on the 10th January, 1912, she was struck by a blind roller and went aground on the Bar, but came off again immediately. The rudder, rudder-post, part of keel and propeller were damaged. Temporary repairs were made, and the vessel came on to Wellington. The following repairs were effected to the vessel : A new rudder and a new rudder-post were fitted, and 7 ft. of the keel was renewed. A new gun-metal propeller and tail-shaft were fitted, and the stern-bush was relined. On the trip from Greymouth to Lyttelton, when off Farewell Spit, on the 14th February, 1912, very heavy weather was encountered. The main topmast was carried away above and close to the rigging-band. Temporary repairs were carried out at Lyttelton to enable the vessel to come to Wellington, where a new mast was fitted. On the 2nd February, 1912, on a trip from Foxton to Wellington, and when off Terawhiti, this vessel struck some submerged object. On arrival in Wellington an examination was made, when it was found that the vessel had sustained no damage. Jan. 9 S.s. Paparoa .. Lyttelton Jan. 9, 10 S.s. Mararoa . . Lyttelton Jan. 12 S.s. Paparoa .. Wellington Jan. 16 S.s. Wimmera. .. \ Dunedin I S.s. Holmdale .. Wellington Jan. 30 Jan. 31 S.s. Kini .. Dunedin Jan. 31, Fob. 3 S.s. Wairau .. Wellington S.». Holmdale .. Lyttelton F«b. 21 Feb. 23 S.s. Queen of the Wellington South I