Steamship Collision

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 133, 16 May 1889, Page 3

Steamship Collision

Auckland, May 14

At about 7 o'clock to-night the TJaion S S. Company's steamer Australia, bound for East Coast ports and Wellington, when in the Kaugitoto Channel, six miles outoide the harbour collided with the American barque Essex and the tug Awahina, which were lashed together, and coming to port. The Essex was coming into the harbour from Brisbane, and had been picked up by the tug outside Tiri two hours previously. The cause of the accident is not yet known, but lights were Been before the collision occurred. The Australia struck the other boats about the bows, but she received little injury, her after port quarter being slightly dented and the deck planks somewhat started. The bowspirit of the Essex was carried away, and slight injury was done to the rigging. The most serious damage was received by the tug. It is thought her stem has been twisted out of place and the planking strained, and ss she was makiug water, she was beached at Rangitoto. The Australia, which had a number of passengers on board returned to port but leaves again at 2 o'clock to-morrow. The Essex sailed to an anchorage ia the stream. The 8.8. Bototoi has gone to render assistance to the ; Awahina and her crew. There was a gopd deal of shouting but no confusion on board the vessels when t&ey collided:. -■