BERTHING' THE VESSEL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1749, 14 May 1913, Page 7

BERTHING' THE VESSEL.

DIFFICULT TASK WELL DONE. (l)y Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, Hay 13. Tho harbourmaster, Captain A. H. Thorpe and his staff, have on various occasions been called upon to exerciso much caution and skill in berthing merchant ships insido the moles at Lyttellon, but not on any previous occasion has such a feat been accomplished as that done by Captain A. H. Thorpo this morning when called upon lo bcrlli a vessel of the ningnitude ol' JI.M.S. New Zealand (says the "Star"). When tho hiammolh cruiser entered tho moles (here we're thousands of peoplo congregated at the waterfront only too ready to throw a jest at even tho mere thought of (ho authorities endeavouring to bring the super-Dreadnought alongside, but -with the skill of a welltrained and oxpcrienccd navigator, Captain Thorpo left his critics bewildered. As ho slowed tho big mass of stoel, MO feet long, safclv to her berth it was the first time that the big battle-cruiser bad been berthed alongsido a wharf in Australasia. The mighty'ship was well down in the water, her marks showing that she was drawing 28ft. 3in. aft, and 25ft. forward. This and the limitation of space made the operation more difficult, but, as it happened. the more creditable. "What did you think of her?" said a reporter to Captain Thorpe when he came ashore after fulfilling his task so sueeess"A' good ship," replied tho captain. "Sho steers beautifully, and in fact much better than a good many merchant vessels of four times less tonnage. 1 thought that I would have had somo difficulty In slewing her within the confined limits at my disposal in the inner harbour, but sho answered lior helm beautifully and this mado tho work much easier. Indeed it surprised mo that a vessel of 19.000 tons could bo so easily handled at Lyttelton." This was all tho captain had to sav of tho great task that had been so well done, but there is still many a landsman wondering yet as to how it was accomplished.