STRANDED STEAMER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20109, 1 December 1939, Page 11

STRANDED STEAMER

SALVAGE UNLIKELY STORM THREATENING DEPARTMENTAL INQUIRY ( (Pur Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, this day. The captain, officers and other witnesses, who were on the Union Steam Ship Company’s freighter, Waikouaiti, when she ran aground on Dog Island on Tuesday night, attended to-day the departmental inquiry held at Invercargill. The inquiry, which was not open to the press, was presided over by the Collector of Customs, Mr. K. IT. Smyth, as agent for the Marine Department. The evidence will be forwarded to Wellington. The question whether a public inquiry will be held will not be decided ifor some days. No salvage work was carried out on the Waikouaiti this morning, and it is believed that as the weather conditions are becoming unsettled in Foveaux Strait with the early possibility of the breaking up of the vessel, an attempt at salvaging is unlikely. Not only has the ship a considerable list to port, but two or three of the holds are flooded. Several Holds Flooded The captain and officers have left -the vessel and it is only a matter of time before the water will have put out of action the steam power and consequently the cranes for lifting the salvage out of the holds. The constant heavy ground swell near Dog Island will make it almost impossible for another ship to lie alongside to take off the salvage and there are at Bluff no pontoons suitable (for the work.

Dog Island itself is so rocky and inaccessible that it could not be used as a dump for salvage for future reclamation.

Another inspection of file scene of the wreck was made this morning by ’Captain W. J. King, the Union Company’s marine superintendent, Dunedin. He was conveyed to Dog Island by the 311111 Harbour Board’s la'unch. Captain King left for Dunedin by this afternoon’s express along with members of the crew, who have -been paid off. Several live at Wellington. The sea was fairly calm in Foveaux Strait this morning, but the closeness Of the atmosphere heralded a change to stormy weather.