S.S. KAPUNI SUNK.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1369, 21 February 1912, Page 4

S.S. KAPUNI SUNK.

ENTERING PATEA RIVER

According to the telegraph notice board, the Patea Shipping Company's steamer Kapuni, whilst entering Patea, from Wellington, about 10 a.m. Yesterday, "stuck in the river/' As a matter of fact, the vessel was sunk, and is at present lying partly submerged at high tide in the river. How tho affair happened was not ascertainable yesterday, but it is understood that as the Kapuni wa.s entering the river she- struck the eastern training wall, with the result that a considerable portion of her starboard side was damaged to such,an extent that be fore she had proceeded any distance she began to rattle down. The master (Cap tain M'lntosh) managed to navigate her insido tho river to beach her. The vessel now lies in a position clear of the channel.

Shipping people in Wellington who know the port of Patea. well aTe inclined to think that the Kapuni was carried on to the wall by the westerly set, a.s well as the sea. The entrance is very narrow. Last evening the Patea Shipping Company shipped salvage gear, and n centrifugal pump, by the Eiripaka. to the scene of the mishap The Kapuni is a wooden screw steamer of 18S tons gross and 97 tons net register She was built in 1009 by W. IT,, Brown' Auckland, for the Patea, Shipping Company. Her dimensions are 100 ft. length, 19ft. beam., and 10ft. denth.