MISHAP TO S.S. WAHINE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2311, 19 November 1914, Page 3

MISHAP TO S.S. WAHINE

RUDDER CARRIES AWAY AT SEA. On account of the Wahirie's bow rudder steering gear carrying away, tho vessel was over four hours late in arriving at Wellington from' Lyttelton yesterday morning. In consequence she missed the connection with the Napier and New- Plymouth mail trains, but her mails for Auckland caught the Main Trunk express. \ , .; . . The Wahine cleared Lyttelton at the usual time on Tuesday evening, and experienced a very heavy head sea, but very little wind for the first few hours out. At about 0.45 a.m. yesterday, on account of the ship battling against the head _ seas '," some part of the bow rudder steering gear became unshipped, and the Wahine 'was brought to a sudden stop. Meantime the rudder, swaying from side to side, caused considerable damage to the steering engine, which is placed on the forward part of the steamer. The engineers got to work and endeavoured to secure the rudder. It was trying job, and the ferry Bteamer laboured heavily in the trough of the seas. For nearly five hours the,enginoroom'staff worked strenuously, and at about 6 a.m. the Wahine' got under way again; As she oame up the coast the weather improvedl, and the vesßel bowled along at the rate of close on 20 knots per.hour, making port as stated above. ' On inquiry at the local office of the Union Company yesterday a reporter was informed that the accident would not interfere with the Wahiiio'n running. She and the Maori—both tur-. bme steamers —are the only vessels in New waters which have been fitted with bow rudders. These are used when the vessels in question are' manoeuvring at Lyttelton and Wellington, and a great deal of time is saved by.the innovation. The fact of the Wamne's rudder being out of use pro tern, will not affect the vessel in theleast. The Wahine left Wellington for Lyttelton as usual last evening, andwhen tho onportuntiy occurs she will be docked at Lyttelton for permanent repairs. ■ ■