KIWITEA SPRINGS LEAK

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 71, 20 September 1930, Page 10

KIWITEA SPRINGS LEAK

BACK TO PORT FOR REPAIR

(By Telegraph.)

(Special to "The Evening Post."}

AUCKLAND, This Day.

After being severely buffeted by the southerly gale on the West Coast, the Union Company's steamer Kiwitea developed a leak and returned to Auckland for repair. She arrived at 5 o'clock last evening and berthed.

The Kiwitea Bailed from Auckland for 'VVestport at !} o'clock, last Monday evening, and fine weather was experienced to Cape Maria "Van Diemen, ■which she passed at 7 o'clock "the following evening. • On Wednesday morning the vessel encountered a southerly gale and high head seas. The Kiwitea was in ballast trim, there being only about 40 tons of cargo in the hold, and considerable difficulty was experienced in making headway against the tempest. The wind blew in hard squalls, accompanied by heavy rain, and the vessel was tossed about by high head which caused her to labour

seas, heavily.

On Wednesday afternoon, when the storm -was at its height, water was discovered in No. 2 hold.

SOME CAKGO DAMAGED,

The cargo,, consisting of •cement, sugar, and a quantity of general merchandise, was stowed in No. 2 hold, and the water damaged about half of the cargo. The remainder of the cargo was removed to No. 1 hold, which was not affected by the leak.

Owing to the- violent rolling and pitching of the vessel and the water iv No. 2 hold, the crew had considerable difficulty in removing the dry _ cargo and preventing it all being spoilt. The gale continued to blow throughout Wednesday night, and when at 5 o'clock on Thursday morning there jwere no indications of conditions modlerating, Captain Bilton decided to_ return to Anckland for repairs.^ The Kiwitea was then about 120 miles to the south of Cape Maria, and she had taken about 36 hours to cover that distance. With the storm behind her the vessel made good speed oh the return trip, and passed Cape Maria again at Go 'clock on Thursday evening. After the vessel had rounded .the cape, the Westport Coal Company's steamer Canopus was seen sheltering from the storm in Spirits Eay. The Canopus left Auckland for Wesport on Tuesday evoning. -