The Breakdown of the Taviuni.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue X, 6 September 1902, Page 615

The Breakdown of the Taviuni.

The steamer Taviuni, bound from Auckland to Wellington, broke her tail shaft at 1 o’clock on Thursday when about thirty-five miles seaward from Tologa Bay. The weather was thick and dirty, and a course had been set to clear the Ariel reef. When the accident occurred the chief officer, Mr Alex. M. Edwin, was on duty on deck, and third engineerGore in charge of the engine-room. On the shock being felt it was not at first known whether it was the tail shaft or the propeller that had carried away. The engines were stopped, and it was subsequently found to be the tail shaft. An effort was made to bring the steamer round, but was not successful.

Dynamite rockets were fired, in the hope of attracting any passing vessel, or of their being seen ashore.

There being no apparent response it was decided to send a party ashore, and at five o’clock ajm. Mr Edwin (first officer) and four others Davis, Hale, Collins and Norman—set out in the surf boat, not knowing where they would make a landing. They sailed as far as Tuahine Point, but could not weather it. or they would have been able to run into Gisborne. After a rough time they made for Wainui Beach, and the high sea lifted the boat well above the bed of papa rock, and the men landed without trouble, nearly opposite Mr William

Cooper’s residence, from where a telephonic message was sent. When the party left the steamer she was drifting out seaward at the rate of about two miles an hour - in a north-easteriv direction.

The feat of the chief officer, who is a son of Captain Edwin, is highlyapplauded in shipping circles. There, was a tremendous sea running, and the launching of the boat was effected with the utmost difficulty and hazard, whilst running ashore through half a mile gf surf was perilous in the extreme. The men speak in the highest terms,of their officer’s pluck and skilful navigation. The boat was off Tuahine Point at 1 p.ru. yesterday, but was unable to make Gisborne, and as night was coming on there was nothing for it but to turn round and run her ashore. With the first streak of dawn on Friday the Mimiro, which had left Gisborne at midnight, fell in with the disabled steamer, and soon hoisted the signal, “Have you a hawser?” To this the Taviuni replied, “No.” The Mimiro again signalled, “Send a boat,” to which the Taviuni responded, “We cannot send a boat, can you send one?” The steel towing hawser of the Mimiro was at once brought on deck, and attached to a new eightinch Manila rope, and this was taken on board the Taviuni. A second line, a 10-inch Manila rope, was also conveyed from the Mimiro and attached to the port cable of the Taviuni.

At seven minutes to twelve the steamers were approaching the Gable End. They' were sailing- along at the rate of about eight knots an hour, when an unfortunate accident occurred, both the towing lines parting without a moment’s notice.

The engines on the Mimiro were at once stopped, but the boats soon drifted apart, the Taviuni looking the picture of utter helplessness as she drifted nearer to the shore.

To the eye of the uninitiated the disabled steamer appeared to be about three miles of the land, but the officer stated that she was about five miles from the land. It was over an hour before the boats came within speaking distance again, and after the Mimiro’s boat had been launched for the second time, and the steel hawser again conveyed on board the Taviuni, a fresh start was made, the boats making progress at a rate of four or five knots per hour. At four o’clock the Mimiro was just about abreast of Pakarae, and the officers, of the steamer considered that in about four hours the vessel would be in the' bay-. But the fates were against this being accomplished. At about 5 o’clock, when the steamer was making about five knots, and was off the False Gable, the steel snapped off close to the bits on the Mimiro, and the two steamers were once more parted. ' A heavy squall came up from the south, and the Taviuni was soon a considerable distance from the Mimiro. Captain Bobb dropped anchor after the steamer had drifted for a time, and fortunately came upon good holding ground. The sea was too heavy to allow the. Mimiro’s boat to be hunched, and Captain Felgute signalled that he would try and stand by for the night. Eater in the evening ths commander of the Mimiro deemed it advisable to put his vessel to sea, and there was much concern felt, by those on board for the safety of the disabled steamer.

At daylight on Saturday the Mimiro was oft Tokomaru, and a couple of hours’ steaming brought the vessel back to the Gable End foreland, where, to the satisfaction of all, the Taviuni was found still riding comfortably at anchor.

After a couple of hours the Mimiro left for Gisborne, so that the manager of the Union Company could arrange for one of the company’s boats to go to the assistance of the disabled steamer.

The weather was still too rough to resume towing operations, Captain Eelgate deeming it unsafe to allow his boat’s crew to undertake carrying the lines to the Taviuni. After a

couple of hours the Mimiro left for Gisborne so that the manager of the Union Company could arrange for one of the company’s boats to go to the assistance of the disabled steamer.

When the Mimiro left the Taviuni was at anchor in an exposed position, five miles oft the Gable End foreland, but rode out the night safely. As showing the necessity for prompt action in sending assistance, it is only necessary to mention the way in which the Taviuni drifted. The accident occurred at 1 a.m. on Thursday, and at five o’clock that morning the steamer was about 30 miles due west of the Ariel Rocks. I 1 rom that time to the same hour on Friday the steamer had drifted in a north-westerly direction for from 25 to 30 miles, an.l when picked up was off Tokomaru and within ten miles of the shore. The wind by this time was blowing a hurricane from the south-east, and had assistance not been at hand the Taviuni might have gone on the rocks before a steamer from Auckland could have reached her.

The s.s. Moura with the Tavinui in tow, arrived at Napier from Gisborne early on Monday.