THE TURAKINA SUNK

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3169, 21 August 1917, Page 6

THE TURAKINA SUNK

DURING VOYAGE FROM LONDON TO NEW YORK

THREE LIVES LOST

'■• The Government, has received advico "; /to the effect thatthoNow Zealand ShipV"' Ping Company's steamer Turakina was Bunk while on her return voyage to New Zealand, and that several lives have been lost. ■; By TcleEraph—Press Association. '-. ' Christchurch, August 20. 1 Advices received hero state that the /: Tuirakina was sunk last Monday on tho Voyage from London to New York, having safely landed her Now Zealand Tie- : inforcements in Britain. The casualties wero the loss of two trimmers and a baker -out of a total complement of - about a hundred men. Captain V. C. White-Parson6, who commanded the Turakina, is a single man, and was born in Lytlelton. Ho is the son of Mr. T. A. White-Parsons, St. Albans. Some yeara ngo, when at J{io de Janeiro, the Turakina was seriously damaged by firo and was then practically guitted. She was refitted at very great expense, and had'only lately been diverted by the Imperial authorities from the Eng- ■; -land-Now Zealand trade to cargo carry- -'- ing between America and Britain. .The Turakina was a steel, twin-screw, fiteamer of S3i9 tons gross, and wan -launched in April, 1902. from the yards of Hawthorn, Leslie, and Co., Ltd., Newcastle, England, for the New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd. She was permanently engaged in the Now Zealand passenger and frozen meat trade, an'l had more than her share of bad luck. On three occasions fire broke out on her. Tho first outbreak was on September 27, 1!)05, in the, vessel's No. 4. hold, as she lay alongside,the Glasgow Wharf, Wellington, but this was extinguished by the crew after 90 balre of wool and flax had been damaged. Two years later, almost to the day—it was September 26, 1907—the cargo in the forehold caught fire when the vessel was a few days' steam from Auckland outward bound for | London. Tho officers and crew were unable- to subline the outbrenk, and tho vessel was headed for Wellington, arriving here on October 4. She was brought ' alongside the wharf, and it was only after strenuous work on the part of the Wellington Fire Hrigade, assisted by the tug Terawhiti, that the fire was . sup- '•■• pressed. The damage amounted to about .£IOO,OOO. Tho third fire occurred in March, 1913, while the Tnrakimi was at Bio de Janeiro, en route from Wellington to' London. The vessel was beached, and it was some weeks before she could be refloated. The damage was heavy to the cargo of butter, cheese, and meat. The. principal dimensions of tho Turakina were: Length. 488 ft.; beam. 59ft. fiin.; depth, 35ft. The vessel carried deadweight of about 10,500 tons of cargo, and had accommodation for 40 first-class passengers. A ealoon for 54 second-class passengers was also fitted up at the after end of the upper bridge. This upper 'bridge formed a spacious promenade, the forward end of which was enclosed in euch a way as to afford shelter to the ' passengers in heavy weather. The etate- ■ rooms were well lighted and ventilated, ■■' and fitted up in first-class style. Aceoiu. •nipdation for 74 third-class passengers ' was fitted ui> in the uoop of the vessel. The three forward holds and 'tween ' decks were insulated, and a. largo duplicate refrigerating plant fitted in tho . ■ shelter deck. The" machinery of the ' Turakina consisted of a s.et of twin-screw •' triple-expansion engines, working at a ■ [ pressure of 2001b. per equare inch, and , capable of maintaining 4500 horse-power , at sea. Steam was supplied by six singleended boilers with forced draught.

The sunken steamer was last in Wellington on March 30 of this year, when, filie was in command of Captain V. C. White-Parsons, E.N.B. The following were the officers when the steamer was last cleared by Customs officers at Wellington:—Meesre. H. S. S. Curtis, first officer; J. Burton-Davies, second; G. A. Speddincr, third; H. F. Newell, fourth; L. T. Barker, wireless operator; E. H. lies, assistant wireless; Dr. A.. M'Grath, snrgeon; Messrs. V. T. Woodall, first engineer; D. Corbett. second; H. Le?combe, third: L. W. Trotter, fourth; W. J. Thomas, fifth; E. E. Cornish, sixth; C. Hales' West, assistant engineer; F. Bat- . ley, first refrigerating engineer; Tf.. W. Billetts, second refrigerating engineer; H. B. Hunter, electrician;' ]?. W. Harris, etewaTd in charge, R. Huddy. purser; .T. K. Dawson. eecond steward; N. O. 'Swain, stewardess; and r M.• Hedley, matron.

The wireless operator on the Turakina, Eric Isles, of Lyall Bay, was a pupil of the Dominion Wireless College,, Welling, ton.