STEAMER TAINUI DISABLED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3146, 26 July 1917, Page 6

STEAMER TAINUI DISABLED

'TOWED INTO PORT. •■- A mishap to the small coastal steamer ,i Tainui occurred at 5.55 p.m. yesterday when the vessel was iu Cook Strait. Tho tug Karaka went to her assistance, and at 0.30 o'clock this morning the Tainui ', ,'■ -was berthed safely at tho King's Wharf. The Tainui, in command of Captain .Bonner, sailed for Lyttelton at 1.-10 ~"~ p.m. yesterday. At 5.55 p.m., when the vessel was alxmt ten miles off Wellington Heads, tho tail-shaft broke y and Captain Bonner, signalled for assistance by ■ means of the Morse code. The signal . -was received by the signalman at Bea"con Hill Signal Station'at Seatoun. The Karaka left her berth at 7 p.m.. and two and a quarter hours later a hawser '* .was fixed between Hie tug and the Tai--nni, and the tow was started. _...- \ < During tho time between the accident ■and the arrival of the Karaka tho Toi--:nnii drifted four miles with tbe northcrlv wind. - It is thought that, the propeller of the -Vessel was .lost when the shaft broke. If this islso, it will be some considerable time before the Tainui will resume her running, as the Patent Slip is at " present in use, and there are several Tessels already booked'for overhaul. An examination of the extent of the ■damage will be mado to-day. The cargo for Lyttelton consisted of . ; about 2000 cases of benzine. I ' The Tainud is a wooden steamer < f 128 tons register, and was built at Auckland ~lii 1903. Messrs. Salmond nnd.SpTaggoii are the local agents for the vessel.