THE TAVIUNI.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 184, 29 April 1908, Page 4

THE TAVIUNI.

THE S Al/VAGE OPERATIONS. (jr. TELFGitAi'n.—rii]>?s association.) . ■ • ivcsport, 28. Mr. Daniel; t{i6 v Uiiioft Company's _ foreman, is fo£ opinion-that': tho-Tayiuni is not strained; and that - the toii-feot ; '.'of 'water in- her came through bfokeii ports'.and other apertures above tlife water line. -Ho will-put a dofik'ey-eiigiiib arid. pumps aboard. Tho prdgrainnfe is to-work,the bow< seaward by thfi aid' 6f' anchors,''lighten the ship by pumping her oiit and discharging tho cargo by an iderial tram ;on;;tp the crown of tho beach,' and at spritig' tides (Thursday orfl'fidaj next), get tho tug;;Mana, with tho assistance of power on .the,', anchors, to tow the •steamer off. Mr. 'Daniel-is hopeful of success. '. - There are thirty to forty tons of gear oil tho scout, and during the past threo or four .days tho tug Mana .has' been employed laying oiit to seaward - ; two tons of anchors attached to tho 'l'avihni-by many fathoms of cable. The steamer's winches will work simultaneously with those of the tiig. . ' -Tho Uhioii Company is so far employing "somo twoiity men. On Sunday tlioy were paid 4s. per hour. The Company keep the men supplied with refreshments.. The Harbour, Bodrd locomotive on tho wcist i breakwater line is being , used to assist'm'.moving ,tho heavy, hawsers. Tlio. Taviuni is. lying .high and dry at low water on i flat beachj broadside oh to : tho sea,, with her bow pointed tcf the,northward) tlie','yfetoel; hSriflg-'.Cotoej'.lfyihd since' she. striick; Tlie'damage to her ports, railings, ttiid riidder.is observable, jbut'it would ■appear-that- the propeller blades are undamaged. '' '. There has already ; been some pilfering of sitiall but.valuable articles:: • It has been ascertained that /ill the compartments of the steamier coiataifi a considerable quantity, of. water, excepting tho fore hold, wliifih is dr'j'. . Whether tho hull is leaking or not- is not ,known.Since, the boat first took the ground,- she has feliifted folir chairifc iiislioffej arid some eighty'feet northward, her positibii being about 300 or 400 feet from tile brcak'watei'. All the wreckage the spectators (of whom there sire many) see' on. the beach is tho splintered roriiaiiis of the boats' smashed on Thursday 'night,'.'arid Seivefal barrels of grease which had been carried on deck. The people oviriced a'good deal of interest in watching tho manoeuvres of the tug outside the breakers oii Thursday night, when Captains Furneaiix and, Leech utilised tho Harbour Board's life-saving rocket apparatus, and gallantly Bought to establish communication witli the Thviuni, afterwards) taking the apparatus to tho.beach. Tho harbourmaster arid his staff have not allowed themselves much rest since the alarm was given oh Thursday night. Passengers landing by boat 'through tho surf of Friday morning wore furnished with lifebelts,; hi. casd of emergent#. > Captain _ llropliy and his ■ officers will remain in Wcstport for the present. No arrangement has yet been made regarding a'iiautical inquii'y. • ' The Taviuni is being pumped out to-dayj and the oarge discharged on tlie beach; The Marino Department adviso that' a Magisterial inquiry is to be held at Westport into the circumstances surrounding tho recent fctfinding of the ,Union Company's fttcanicr Taviiiiii.