S.S. WAIRAU SUNK.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1130, 18 May 1911, Page 5

S.S. WAIRAU SUNK.

IN THE MANAWATU, COLLIDES WITH S.S. HIMITANGI. Word of the sinking of the little coastal steamer Wairan through collision with h.s. Hiniitaugi was received in town yesterday. Details <if the occurrence are furnishoil by tho "Manawatn Evening Standard." ]'"roin these it appears that .about midnight on WcdnoHiay the Himitangi left Foxlon for Wnnganui. About threequarters of a mile from (ho Heads she mot Ilio Wairau, 9. 1 ? tons commanded by Captain. Shaw,-inward bound, coal laden for the 'West Coast S.S?. Company of I'almerston, from I'upongn. The point when) the steamers met is below Hartley's Mend, and just opposite .Rush Flat, where tho channel is very narrow nnd very deep, M'hiUt the approach of vessels is hidden by an elbow of the river. It is the custom when it is apparent that vessels will meet in this narrow channel for one. to wait for tho other to pass, but it is surmised that, on tho night in question tho steamers approached too closo before each other's presence was known. However, when it was seen that they would meet in tho narrow waterway both steamers reversed their engines, but each had too much way on to avoid a collision. The Wairau was struck amidships, and slewed round with her stern on to the bank, and her nose in deep water, where she settled. Tho Himitaugi was also slewed round by tho forco of the impact, and was for a short time ashore, but she got oif and proceeded on her way apparently uninjured. The Wairau made water rapidly, and a.t loir "tide fhe foro part of the vessel is submerged. Her crew of nine got safely ashore with their baggage. It is not expected there will be any difficulty in saving the steamer, though tho extent of her injuries is not yet known. Therowill be difficulty in gelling out tho coal owing to tho stern being high out of the water and her nose well under. WAS A WARNING GIVEN? (By Telezrapli.-Press Association.) Wanganui, May 1". Tho Himitangi arrived here early this morning. Practically no damage wi'S sustained as the result of the collision with the Wairau. Her officers are reticent, but it is stated that the Himitangi warned the Wairan to give her more room, and then backed on to the bank. Tho Wairau still crime on, and collided, then went back on to the bank, tho Himitangi coming on. WAIRAU'S INTERESTING CAREEB.. Recently tho Himitangi was sold by Messrs. Levin and Co. to the Chatham Islands Fishing Company for tho purpose of taking stores to the fish depot at - Chrenga, Chatham Islands. Sho w:w built in ISM by J.'PuHerbon and Co., Paisley, Scotland," to the order of 3les?rf;. Levin and Co., and is a steel vessel, 130 feet In length. S4 feet beam, with' h draught oi 9 feet. Her tonnage is 393 gross and U9 net. The engines are by Messrs. Muir and Houston, Glasgow. The Wairan is a wooden vessel built in 1900 at Tctara North, New Zealand, to tho order of J. Asperano, Picton. Sho is 98 feet long, 23 feet beam, with a draught of 7 feet 1 inch. Her tonnage is H3 gross, and 59 net. Shi , was formerly the sailing vessel Rona, which capsized in Cook Strait about three years ago. On that occasion she was picked up and towed to Wellington,, and after lying by for several months had engines installed. A few months ago she collided with the scow Oban in the Wairau River. It wasfound on that occasion thnt neither vessel had be*n damaged to any extent.