COLLIER KOWHAI BEACHED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1697, 13 March 1913, Page 4

COLLIER KOWHAI BEACHED.

STRIKES MOLE: ENGINE-ROOM FLOODED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Dunedin, March 12. Tho Union Company's collier Kowhaf» which left for Oamani this morning, struck tlio mole at tho Heads, and had to be Iwachcd. 1 Whilo getting out past tho mole at 8..1U, she appeared to get out of control as she entered the swirl of (the waters caused by tho meeting of tho ebb tido ' ami tlio heavy incoming sea. She was driven right across tho mole, and serious damage was so obvious that alio was turned for tho harbour, leaking in the engine-room. The fires went out off Pilot Beach, but tile captain succeeded in beaching her ne !u i wcc ' Mni ' pleasure resort. At 11 a.m. the engine-room ivas full of water, and there were eighteen inches of wtUter over the deck at the stem. *r Jr'.'f J P!uuk ' V ' 0,1 boartl of which was Mr. M Intyre, superintendent of repairs lor the Union Company, quickly arrived on the scone, but by that time .tho ICowhoi was submerge? tho level of (the deck at the stern, a portion of the railing being just above water. ' After the crew's effects had been trans,lle tho tug returned to - Port Chalmers for the hulk Emproza to transfer cargo and to procure a diver, bho subsequently returned to the ICowhni, and stood by till evening. In tho afternoon tho incoming tide and a strong/ wind caused the Kowhai to float on-the beach, 'and as she rose and fell her fore .part came m contact with .the largo boulders forming tho retaining wall. Owing to the danger of further damage, tno stranded vessel was removed to a safer position on the bench, a short distance on tho town side of tho Spit Jetty, where she was moored, and the diver went down to ascertain the extent of tho damhull P collision mats over the

A start will bo made to pumo the vessel out to-morrow, the suction Dredge 401 being utilised for the purpose. Assuming that tho joles in the Kowhai can )>e etiectually closed, pumping operations will be oompleted very quickly, and it is hoped to have the vessel docked some tinio to-morrow. ' The general opinion is thalfc tho captain is entitled to great credit for getting tha Kowhai back to,a place of safetv after the accidenJfc happened. The Kowhai is a single deck steamer of 792 tons, bought ; by the Union Company about two years ago, and has since been engaged in tho coastal trade. - • . ,