MISHAP ON BAR

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21414, 5 March 1935, Page 12

MISHAP ON BAR

yi;ss>:l (;kazks hocks at (jkkymoith II.VMAf.K TO I'KOI'KI.LKKS . -:■£• ! »:, TCi 1 H!'. I'KF.>S. GHEYMOUTH, March 4. Or. h r •: ihvt vi.-it to Greymoulh since '/■■?. ihe Melbourne Steam Ship Com--1 ; :•:.;.'-. .-.-. Mcrnoo grazed the rocks ;.* the entrance to the Greymouth harK:nr. .-hortly before 9 o'clock this moraine. There was a considerable :,GU'iherly swell running on the bar, tmd Captain F. W. Cox. harbourmaster it Greymouth, went out on the tug West land to pilot the vessel in. Under his command the Mernoo approached 1 :; c entrance, but was apparently lifted I'.v a heavy swell and sheered around, Tending to go broadside on to the i :ver mouth The stern of the vessel ~•-;.-:'.: rt the apron of the rocks on the k"\n'r. tiphead. <.'U!<;:iin Cox had stopped the engines t. r,; i! lie noticed that the vessel was t'-.'id.r.'; <i/r her course into the river, ■ ■■>■: the impact was not so severe, .e:. ; ;"ii-h to the onlookers the vessel appeared to remain on the rocks mo- .". ::tariiy. However, she was not held :;.'t. Captain Cox bringing her up to t :":■<. wharf. Work was immediately commenced <>:. loading the forward holds with timber with the object of having the ;tern rise toenable an examination to oe made. The examination disclosed •hut the propeller had received the impact, three of the blades being dam-i-K.-d. although not to a serious ex■fwt. One blade was badlv twisted and the others chipped. At the time of the accident the Mer-r-j->n was drawing only eight feet six ■ •ches lorward, and 12 feet one inch a: 1 . The Mernoo. which is under the '.-irim.nrd of Captain Price, is the seenr.'i largest vessel trading to Grey;>:<.wih. ben- of 1400 tons. The largest !/ trie Omana. which is about 100 tons 1: '-J-,. _ '1 ae damage to the Mernoo's propel- : ' : '■"■ not sufficient to prevent the ll'V'V 1 ■ departure for Melbourne about ni.cht, and the loading of "'■'' , " r m the fore and afl holds is prorrpdn-)", 10-nighi. e'aplaai Price declined to comment r i <■>'■ ma-hap ;; t the present juncture.