STEAMER IN TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 186, 3 May 1920, Page 4

STEAMER IN TROUBLE

INGA STRIKES UNKNOWN OBSTACLE; Early on Saturday morning the steam- . er;. l'ngaj bowi'd from Newcastle to Wanganui, put into., Wellington in. a damaged, condition, having, struck some unknown obstacle.about fifty miles off Wanganui at 3.4o'n.ni. on Friday. Tho Inga'left Newcastle at 8 a.m. on April 23, and almost immediately ran into heavy weather, a strong S.S.W. gale with heavy sens being experienced. At 1 a.m. on FridayEgmont light was picked up, the wind at the time being a S.S.E. breeze. Good progress was made at 3.40 a.m., when the vessel struck. "Full steam astern" was ordered, and after a few minutes the vessel cleared herself. On soundings being taken, the vessel was found to.be making water, and the pumps were at once set working. At daybreak on Friday, as the vessel was still making about'ten tons of water per hour, it was decided to. bring her. to Wellington, where she duly, arrived at 7.35 a.m. on Saturday. The, Inga' is a steel screw • steamer of 948 tons, and was.built in'l9o4, her present owners being Messrs. E. S. Lamb and Co., Sydney. Her principal dimensions are as follow:—Length, ■ 215.3 ft. j breadth.. 31.5 ft.; and depth 14.6 ft. Cap. tain J. H. Bull is in charge of the vessel. Mr. D. Macdonald is chief officer, Mr. J. Archer second, Mr. B. M'Kenzio third. Mr. Snow.-kri chief engineer, Mr. W. Smith second, ana Mr. N. M'Leod third, The .Inga's cargo consists of 1000 :tons coal for the Wangahui gasworks and about 100 tons of hardwood timber for the New Zealand Government.

The .Inga will have to discharge hor cargo liere, so that an examination can bo in ado and repairs effected.