STRANDED LINER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1476, 26 June 1912, Page 6

STRANDED LINER.

AT GISBORNE- . PLK3HT OP STAR OF CANADA. WEATHER NOW CALMCOMMANDER OPTIMISTIC- . (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Gisborno, June 25. With tho advent of fino weather the 'prospects of refloating tho stranded steaiuer Star of Canada have improved. The tug Terawhiti, with salvage gear, is expected to arrive about 3 a.m. and a start with solvago work .will probably bo made at daylight. Lightering of the cargo has been carried out briskly all day. By relieving the weight at tho after end of the ship it is hoped to prevent the vessel sagging. i' Dry Aft, But Water-logged Forward. ' The cargo in tho after holds, which are quite dry, comprises 35,000 carcasses of mutton, 10,000 sacks of oats, 1000 casks of tallow, pelts, 300 bales of wdol, and about 300 tons, of antimony ore. There is 24ft. of water in the three forward holds. The , boiler and engine-room departments Temain dry. As,far as Captain Hart can tell, there is absolutely mo structural disarrangement of the hull. The vessel lies in exactly the same position as yesterday morning. She-has not moved a single inch since settling d«ivn at the bow, which lias not subsided further.

Nature of the Damage. Questioned as to the probable extent of the 'damage to tho vessel's hull, the captain said it was confined to the forward end of the ship under Jfos. 1, 2, and 3 holds, and,' from investigations, he believed that thouo were no extensive rents; 'but-the leakage was simply arising Irom tho'buckling in of the plates, in consequence of tiie vessel settling on the bottom. Sho lies within cable distance of the reefs forward and aft, with about iJOft. of water near tho stern. The cargo in tho lower No. 3 hold comprises oats. The captain does not anticipate any. trouble from swelling of tho grain; in fact, ho declares that it will help the position, as it will prevent the water from surging in. Held Fast by Anchors. The vessel is drawing 30ft. at the bow, and the forecastle head is still lift, or 15ft. above the water. Tho draught at the'stern is 24ft. or 25ft. She was drawing '29ft. when she went ashore, tho stern having risen as tho bow settled. Two anchors are out at the bow, and th'ese keep the vessel head on to the eea. Another anchor is being laid from the after end by tho Union Company's steamer Tuatea to-day. This is for thejmrpose of preventing the steamer drilling on to the edge of the reef as she becomes lightened. . CAPTAIN INTERVIEWED. fiE DESCRIBES THE POSITION. Gisborne, Juno 25. Early this afternoon a Gisborno "Times" reporter went ont to tho Star of Canada on the launch Hilda, in company, with Captain Jlamey, marine superintendent' for tho Tyser Company, and Mr, A.' Dewing, manager for Messrs. Kelson Bros. Tho weather was excellent. A brief interview was obtained with Captain Hart, who courteously gave somo facts concerning the situation. The captain expressed pleasure that the storm had abated, and the sea subsided into so placid a- calm. : The steamer rocked to a fair extent at low water, indicating a pressure on the rooks amidships, but (as the interviewer would take notice) she. was steady, and lay very easy 'at high. tide. Is the wateri in the holds-increasing? asked the pressman. "That 1 isj" said tbo'captain, "a difficult query, to answer, as the height of the water is naturally- affected by the tide, but, if anything, it was a shade higher this morning." "Are the ship' 3 own centrifugal pumps iible to copo with the water? Are they bettering the position in tho holds?" The;'captain replied that, forward, the water-hail pretty well found its own level, so to speak. The pumping had, to a certain extent, been discontinued in N0..3 hold,-but the pumps were still being used, and were.doiuj; good work. /

Engine and Boiler Rooms Intact, "Hassan examination of tho steamer been made?"-.tho reporter asked. "Yes,- a cursory examination was mado nnd a thorough examination wherever possible:" "Could, you give any particulars as to what was discovered?" ■As'far as could be. ascertained, the captain said, there was no real structural disorganisation. This, of course, applied to what could be- seen, but there was .very evidently some damage done below. As to statements that the engine-room was. tapped, the commander said that these were quito false. The engine-room, the refrigerating-Tooin, and the boilerroom were, absolutely-intact, and free from leaks. "And so matters must remain," the captain added, "so long'astho weather keeps up." He went on to say that one plate in tho after engine-room bulkhead had sustained n slight indentation, but not of a serious nature. Effect of Removing Cargo. The cargo, the, captain added, would nearly , all bo salved, so far as the after holds wero concerned. "Would not," the reporter asked, "tho . act of removing all tlio cargo from astern have'tho cfi'oct of letting the ship down more 'ou tho nose,' as haa besn Bug. geste'd." That, replied tho captain, was a wrong impression held by a good many peoplo, β-ltliou;)! it «'its tnio lo a certain extent The taking of tho cargo from the after holds would lighten the steamer in that part, and therefore make tho .stern less liable to suffer from contact with tho rocks;should tho weather become rough. .Steamer's Chances Good. Asked if s!io woiild not Iμ liable to wring round on to the reef if emnty, the captain said that the extra anchor dispelled the possibility of such a contingency. "Would if be a matter of immediate danger if.tho squall had continued, or if rough wea'ther returned?" "Well," said Captain Hart, with a suggestive shake of his head,' "it is difficult: to say, but let us hope that the fine weather continues. Good salvage tackle will soon bo at hand, and I believe that .we will get off all right." REINSURANCES. (Rue. June 2C, 0.15 a.m.) London, .Tune 25. Forfy-flvo per centum is quoted as tho reinsurance rate oii the Star of Canada's hull, and GO per cent, on her refrigerating machinery. ■