ON "THE HARD" NO LONGER.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 674, 26 November 1909, Page 7

ON "THE HARD" NO LONGER.

: : STEANDED' TAVIU'N^EELAUNOHBD.^'i ,--.'; .Vavpine.spcTACLE.:;:' ■ .;■-:•:, ■ ',•: (By Teleerapli—Press Association.) ■'■";.' ,'.c'v. ~„'-.'■ ': - , 'Westport,.November.2s. : Ono : dark'misty night about eighteen months |ago (at 9.10 p.m., on April 23,1908) the' Union Company's'.steamer' Taviuni, bound" to' Westipoft, overran tho? port', and .wont ashore on jjtho sea beach:- at ..the', wesf'.sideof. the; harbour entrance. Mr. Daniels, the Union- Company's, veteran salvage foromany has -been ongaged: ever .since, : off. and on,;iii, preparations; to replace the steamer in.'uavigablo waters, andj at -8.10 'o'clock this 'morning," he: sueocededi,■.'■''■•'■'■ ; :'■ .'■ : '" : r.''''' :'■ '•.•'"'.''.'■' 'Originally.'an attempt was,made : to launch the "vessel 'to.' seaward,, .but- this, course was soon ascertained .to be ''impracticable,. arid-lit, was then 'decided to shift her: along the beach ,a. considerable distance, , Vand "launoh. her through, a, out in the breakwater.! into the river. Enormous ■: and costly work ; was : en.tailed; in'carrying;out -this scheme. l ; ■.- For one thing a 'breakwater timber had to be bnilt on; the seaward side of' the ship, and tho shifting sand: proved a continuing . difficulty, to- an extent .riot antioipated.J . All- - sorts, -.ot.'.' other, drawbacks : were also encountered, and it is. W the credit .of .Mr., Daniels and. ■ his '.staff that they were, one' by one, overcome, and that the undertaking , has at length .been', brought to a successful isspe..' ;-.Mr. Daniels was favoured .with ideal conditions for. tho completion .of his great task. Tho weather was. beautiful, and tho sea and river as smooth;as glass. From an early hour. iko ; plo hadi : been- gathering' from, all; quarters, and, 'when. .the ship., glided into : tho. stream, several ■ thousand .'Spectators -■ witnessed ' the ■operation. The : br«ak>yater pii: tho: town;i side o| the:■ river ■ was: the ; v most popular, point 'of view, but. iaany- crossed the .stream'by train andmotor .launoh. to get a, closer view,' and the scene generally was picturesque and.'.animated. ,;• In the, foreground, reposing in ' die-' nity on her cradle, t was 'the Taviuni, whion had;become such a .well-known local , - landmark: Above and below; her in -the stream were', lying the, tugs Maua and Terawhiti. Motor launches darted here 'and; there, and .rowing-boats .were plentiful. Here : arid there, also, oanieras '.were to be seen. : Early arriyalsJhad 'some time to wait, as Mr. Daniels: did not 6tart'the final act until he..was ready. His ,staff had been at work from' dawn completing the prepara-. tions, but it .was inecessary nevertheless to await the turn of'the tide ; at-8.10. a.m.' ' '■'~".■ : A couple of warning,whistles were; Heardj two men,'..stationed in .responsible positions, when Mr. ' Daniels , , gave - the word: "Now. then, ..sharply!" knocked away 'the '.last, two wedges, and the big steamer immediately raoved; , . and then i glided gracefully into' the 1 river. An anchor was. 1 dropped, ■ and, inia moment, the -ship : swung gracefully:, in the middle of the stream;; The actual operation of launching was quiet, rapid, simple,: and successful from every point of view. The publio wore deeply interested, and^.wfcen.it was seen; that-the vessel was afloat, vigorqus, cheers rang out from both sides of the river, while Captain Leeoh supplemented the vocal-demonstra-tion with ,a hip,, hip"- blast on the Maha's ■whistle. ' : '..-'■' . :. . ■:'■ '•'. ■ ■ : : .

, The tugs presently ranged alongside, and the Maha then took the Tavitmi in- tow, and borthed her at: the Crane 'Wharf.'She is to load 600 tons of. coal, and, unaer the com.mand qf ; Captain- Collins, will bo towed by the Union Company's tug Terawhiti to Port Chalmers for repairs. ■,-\ v ,.,. ':; ;