ATTEMPT TO REFLOAT LINER AGAIN POSTPONED

Chronicle (Levin), 23 January 1947, Page 8

ATTEMPT TO REFLOAT LINER AGAIN POSTPONED

-Press ' Asaociation

By Teleoravh—

' WELLINGTON, Jam 22. The proposed main attempt to refloat the Wanganella was postponed from high tide this afternoon for 12 or 24' hours. At high morning tide the stern had toeeii revealed as formerly almost as far down as the rudder. Beneath the bridge the hull appeared to have we'akened. At low water the trough' of the swell wopld shov/ the bottom of the bow torn away for an indeterminable length, and a big gash was apparent where the rock below the bridge had gored the plates on striking. The divers . estimated the aperture as 12ft. in length with 17 feet of water in both forward holds, and a weakness is apparently developing further aft than the bridge. Doubts were entertained as to; whether the aetual tugging effort would be made in time. The tufning point appeared td be a discharge at about 3.30 p.m. of about 600 tons of ftiel oil. This ran like a dark river 200 yards wide a mile long out into Cook Strait. Following this the position was somewhat easier, thou'gh still grave. This action meant that a chance would be taken for further preparing the vulnerable parts of the ship for the consequences contingent upon her successful removal from the rocks. The weather was still northerly and the conditions generally warranted a little optimism. Thus though the tugs Rahanui, Toia and Terawhiti moved down harbour to the Wanganella they were eventually despatched to the starboard of the liner where they remafned with a certain amount of shelter oifered by the reef from the blustering northerly. Riding on the reef and taking the strain at the stern on the kedge anchors the Wanganella prepared to pass her fourth night ashore. . About 100 members of the Wanganella 's crew are returning to Australia by the first liner with berths available which is Oxpected to be the Dominion Monarch sailing from Wellington on January ' 31. • Huddart Parker's marine underwriter, Captain McDonaU, of Melbourne, is expected in Wellington tomorrow. An official statement may be made 'after he examines the ship. Several inquiries from overseas salvage firms have been receivecl in Wellington toncerning the Wanganella.

A reminder of wtirtimo, wlien tliere wero [irolilic idcsis l'roni ;ill inaimer of LH'oplc for iu»\v dovicc.s, .sl riitagtons and svcajions to coufouad tlia oaeiny, has bcca gi-vcit ia WaJliagtou duriug tlio uit'k liy privata sugg'eslioa.s regarding wavs and aicaiis lo saivagc iht! Wanganella. It is not nocessary, it soenis, to be a marino expert to know liovv it slionld be doiie. As vvilli the liordes of iiiveutora during the war, fanoy, rather than science, has beeu a proJiotineei.i element atid many llieories would require a great deal of rranslation inlo ]iractice, especially ia aa emergeney. The saggesi i,ns for inoving tlio Wanganella ha\c been nenrlv as rifo as ihe rumours abunt her sit nation. Hhohas been varionsly reportiul, for instanee, as having been refloaled, havT- ! i ng got free and tlien foundered in niidtiarbour, thus bloehing tlio Jiorl oi: Wellington, and having broke.n in two at assorted plaees. A moiig the. ideas proposed are the ereetioa of elaborale scaffolding on Ilarrell's Keef to peria it Ihe rtiising of Ihe liner 's bow and the raising of the ship by several balloons. The inost popular is ihe use of explosives to blow out portion of the roof, lml liere the jipieslion is whether the ship would sur|\i\e an explosion satlieient to roinove ! ihe great ipiantity of rock nearby.