TAVIUNI SUNK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1248, 3 October 1911, Page 5

TAVIUNI SUNK.

COLLISION IN SYDNEY HARBOUR. Bγ Tcleeraiite—Press Association—CodttleM Sydney, October 2. The Union Company' steamer Taviuni, 1512 tems, well known in tho Islands trade, was sunk in tho harbour to-day as tho result of a collision with tho Nera, a vessel of 5538 tons, belonging to the Mossageries Marilimcs Company. The. Nora was being towed from tho wharf, when tho tow-rope broke and fonlcil her propeller. She was unablo to stop and crashed, into tho Ttiviuni on tho port' quarter. A hugo holo was made in tho Tnriuni, wliich was got quickly to tb,c wharf, where slu< sank inside an hour. Tho crow was rescued. UNION LINER'S POSITION. (R«c October 2, 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, October 2. Tho Ncra was starting on her outward voyage, vrhilo tho Taviuni was inward bound. Tho Nera'a rudder was badly twisted and ono plata on the port quarter was fractured. Tho Taviuni's stern js submerged and sho is lying on her port 6ido with her bows above tho water. Tho Taviuni's cargo includes 20,000 bags of copra, valued at ,£25,000. After the collision, the Nera put back for repairs. AN UNFORTUNATE SHIP. The Tavhmi was built for the Union Company in 1800 by Meesrs. W. Denny and Bros, Dumbarton. Her dimensions wore:—Length, 250 ft.; breadth. 34ft. 2in.j depth, 17ft. Oin. Being specially built for tho Island trade, she, for some years, used to voyage between Wellington and tho Islands, via Auckland. Fox tho last two months the Taviuni lias been encased in tho trade between Tonga and Sydney. She was a fine sea-going boat. The Taviuni has had a very unlucky career. In September, 1891, sho ran on a reef in making Vavnu. Harbour at night. In June, 1898, sho was in collision with tho schooner Rover near Ra.usitoto Island. ' In the month of August, four years later, her stern shaft broke about five miles south-east of Ariel Rwf, off .tho east coa-st of tho North bland, and in December of the same year sho was stranded during a fog near tho Rough Rock Buoy, Auckland. It was on April 23, 1908 that her most serious casualty happened, when Ae went a.shoro at Westport. After over a year's ; hanl work sho was refloated'on October •25, 1900. Tho French liner Nera, was originally named the La Plata, and was built in the year 1880. She is a vessel of 452 ft. 6in. in length. «ft. flin. in breadth, and 32ft. Sin. in depth. Her port of registry ia Marseilles.