WILL SHE BE AUCTIONED?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 7

WILL SHE BE AUCTIONED?

FAINT HOPE FOE STAB OF CANADA. (Bj\ Telegraph.—Press Association.) Gisborne, August 2. The advent of water in the stokehold of the Star of Canada has had a. prejudicial effect on the underwriters' efforts at'salvage, and the heavy seas which are riming are even expected to more seriously injure the vessel which is straining badly. An official statement, made to a reporter this evening, was to the effect that the future of tho ship depends wholly upon a cablo which is expected from Home to-morrow. The report further states that the weather experienced to-day was the worst since the vessel came ashore. Seas were breaking right over her, and up to tho bridge. As soon as was practicable, tho tug Terawhiti was got alongside with very great difficulty. Portion o: the pumping plant and salvage gear was placed on hoard for the purpose of safety', tho turbulent stato of the sea making it highly necessary that this precaution should be taken. later on, at low water, Messrs. Nelson Bros.' lighter was towed by the Hipi into position, and further pumps and gear woTe placed on her.

"A regrettable feature of (he whole thing," the officer continued, "is that tho pressure of. the water has now buckled the bulkheads, and the water is finding its way into the Btokehold, it beiner 5 or 6ft. deep in the forward end. Tho cant of tho ship—which is now sinking badly by the head and burrowing into tho papa—seems to bo on the increase. Sho is unquestionably sinking leeper, but there are still hopes of successfully salvine her."

This evening a heavy sea .was still running, and the big steamer was swinging badly. Local seafaring men aro pessimistic as to the vessel's chances, and it is generally expected that salvage efforts will he finally abandoned (so far as the underwriters are concerned) to-morrow, and that the offering of the ship by auction will follow in the course of a day or two.