RUAHINE EXAMINED

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2292, 28 October 1914, Page 8

RUAHINE EXAMINED

TROUBLE TRACED TO A CARGO PORT MAY SAIL ON SATURDAY Discharge of a,ll that rjortion of tho Ruahine's cargo which it was found necessary to put out hn-a been completed. It has beou ascertained that the cargo in the lower holds in the forward part of tho vessel has not been damaged, and tho ship herself has not suffered in the least. Practically all tbo elieese which has been landed from tho upper holds is -undamaged. There aro several exates stored in K Shed, however, irliich have required attention, but it is thought that this part of the dairy produce freight will be ready for reshipniont during the course- of the next (lay or two. As a matter of fact, the Government graders are of the opinion that tho cheese which has been in the water bas not suffered to any extent. The cratos have beea opened, and thoir contents examined. All that is required to be done i.s for the outside- of tho cheese to be scrubbed and repacked.

After a careful examination liad been taade by the surveyors yesterday morn■jng, and tho door, or cargo port, had : been removed, the causo of the accident was made quite apparent. It apfaoars that over a year ago when the Ruahine was berthed at the Queen's ■Wharf. No. 1 South, she was run into by the ferry steamer Maori, as the latter was backing out on her way to Lyttelton. On that occasion two of tho Kuahine's plates on the starboard side were buckled. Temporary ropairs were effected here, and permanent- repairs woro carried out at Home. The lunges ou the door, which was responsible for the present mishap, were removed, and it is thought that in the bustle and hurry to got the Ruahine away, and during the overtime which was worked at night, not enough attention had been paid to this particular cargo port. The port has been used many times since /then, and no trouble has been occasioned. Prior to her departure from Wellington on Saturday, - the Ruahino liad not been so deep in the water since the repairs had been effected at Home. This time tho port was awaeh, practically speaking, under I water. With the vessel's speed through the water, and the door, or port, not fitting tightly, the packing, it is considered, was washed away, and that was how the water found its way into the 'tween decks. It is the usual custom for those in charge of the vessel to sound the bilges at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. When tho Ruahine's bilges were sounded at 6 p.m. on Saturday there was no water in them, A leak in the 'tween decks is never looked for, because if any water did find its way in there it would, under ordinary circumstances, nnd its way down to the bilges per medium of a scupper. As much sawdust' was used in connection with the stowing of the crates of cheeso, the water which had managed •iv find its way into the 'tween decks' took a long time to percolate through to the bilges. As soon as a. sufficient quantity of water had found its way to tho- bilges in tho bottom of the ship she began to take a list, and soundings were at once takoti. It was then found that the Ruahine had been leaking. Efforts which were made to locate the trouble proved successful, and the Ruahine reached port safely. Messrs. J. J. Niven have the work of making a new port door in hand, and yesterday a workman was engaged in chipping the recess level, so as to make the door a perfest fit when it is screwed up tight. ' The new door will be fitted to-day, and the work of re r loading tho vessel will be commenced immediately afterwards. It is expected that she will be ready for sea again on Saturday liext. Tho Collector of Customs at Wellington will hold a preliminary inquiry into the mishap eithor to-day or to-morrow.