51

H.—lsa.

No. 19.—Return of Vessels surveyed for Seaworthiness, etc.- continued.

Date of Survey. Name of Vessel. Where surveyed. Nature of Casualty, &c. 1912. Nov. 8, 11,13 Auckland Napier Auckland Nelson.. Wellington Wellington Wellington Dunedin Auckland Nelson Wellington On the 7th November, 1912, this vessel grounded on a sandbank near Limestone Island when leaving Auckland. On arrival at Auckland the vessel was docked for survey and the following repairs effected : Several of the'floor-plates and several new reverse bars were fitted in the bottom under the after hold ; the stokehold bulkhead was renewed right across the bottom about 3 ft. up, and the plates forming the recess for the donkey-boiler were re-riveted along the bottom ; one new butt strap was fitted on top of keelson, and also one on the side; four rivets in the bottom of the hull were renewed, and the cement in the bottom was renewed where necessary. This vessel was making a trip from Napier to East Coast when on the 23rd October, 1912, in thick weather, she ran aground on the sandy beach near Makaramau. The vessel was refloated on the 10th November, and returned to Napier. She was placed on the slip, when six rivets were renewed in the port side of bottom and a small sheatbingpatch was riveted on seam between C and D strakes. On the starboard side 14 ft. of new angle-iron was fitted to the bottom of port belting, and 13 ft. of new belting and 12 ft. of new rail were fitted on port side. Bottom gudgeon of rudder was relined with magnolia metal. The rudder-blade of this vessel was carried away on the 11th November, 1912, during heavy weather, while the vessel was on a voyage from Tauranga to Auckland. A jury rudder was fitted, which enabled her to reach Port Charles. She was afterwards towed by the s.s. " Doto " to Auckland, when a new rudder was bolted to the stock and part of the rudder-trunk was renewed. On the 20th November, 1912, this vessel was crossing the bar of the Aorere River bound from Collingwood to Nelson. The propeller struck the bottom, the blow shearing the feather on the propeller-shaft. On arrival in Nelson a spare propeller-shaft and new propeller were fitted. This vessel was proceeding from Picton to Nelson, on the 25th November, 1912, when she touched Blarnine Island, Queen Charlotte Sound. She completed the trip to Nelson and back to Wellington, where a survey of the hull was made internally. A diver was engaged to examine the outside of the hull. She was found to have received no damage. This vessel was on a voyage from Wanganui to Sydney on the 20th September, 1912, and when sixty - five miles west by south from Wanganui she was dismasted. She was taken in tow by the s.s. "Arapawa" on the 21st September and towed into Wellington and refitted as follows: A kauri fore lower mast, 16J in. diameter, out of the " Pelotas " was fitted; new main and mizzen lower mast, 18 in. diameter, new kauri fore, main, and mizzen topmasts, fore and main top-gallant and royal masts were fitted; a new topsail, topgallant and royal yards, and a kauri bowsprit and jib-boom were also fitted; all standing rigging, stays, and guys were refitted, and a complete new set of sails with all runninggear complete was provided. When lying alongside the Glasgow Wharf, Wellington, on the 29th November, 1912, a crack was discovered in the main stop-valve chest of the centre after boiler. A new stop-valve chest was made, fitted, and tested to 360 lb. hydraulic pressure. On the 3rd December, 1912, when this vessel was lying at the wharf, Port Chalmers, a fire was discovered in the port side of cross-bunker. After the removal of the coal it was found that the lead suction-pipes for the ballast-tanks, which pass through the bulkhead, were melted. New pipes were fitted, and a patch riveted on the bulkhead where the pipes were jointed. On the 7th December, 1912, this vessel was towing a raft of logs between Tairua and Auckland when the port tailshaft broke off at the after end of brass liner. She proceeded to Auckland with her starboard engine. On arrival she was docked and a new propeller-shaft fitted. The outer stern-bush was relined with lignum-vitse. This vessel was making a voyage from Waitapu to Nelson on the 12th December, 1912, when a web of crank-shaft broke. On arrival in Nelson repairs were made. During the voyage of this vessel from Gisborne to Wellington, on the 18th December, 1912, she ran ashore off the mouth of the Tukituki River. She remained fast from 2.30 a.m. to 10 a.m., when she was towed off by the s.s. " Tangaroa," assisted by her own engines. The vessel resumed her trip to Wellington. On arrival a survey was made, when she was found to have sustained no material damage. S.s. Rosamond .. Auckland Nov. 19 S.s. Weka Napier Nov. 21 O.e.v. May Howard Auckland Nov. 22 . . S.s. Hina Nelson.. Nov. 27 .. S.s. Pateena Wellington Sept. 27; Oct. 4 ; Nov. 8, 28 Wanganui (barquentine) j Wellington lee. 2 S.s. Surrey tec. 3 S.s. Waiwera Dec. 11, 12.. S.s. Waitangi Dec. 10 S.s. Hina Deo. lit S.s. John