SHIP ABANDONED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20109, 1 December 1939, Page 4

SHIP ABANDONED

s WAIKOUAITI'S FATE LEFT TO UNDERWRITERS CARGO SALVAGE POSSIBLE (Pur Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. • The Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Limited, announce that their steamer Waikouaiti, which is ashore at Dog Island, in Fovcaux Strait, has been abandoned to the underwriters. If the weather keeps fine, however, an attempt probably will be made to salvage some of the cargo from the after-end of the ship, which is still dry. Any salvage work done will be to conserve the interests of the owners of the cargo pending instructions from them. An Invercargill message states that the position of the Waikouaiti was unchanged last night except that she had settled down a little more and at high tide the water covered No. 1 and No. 2 hatches. Salvage of Wireless In the afternoon the pilot launch went out with the chief steward, wireless operator and an agent of Lloyds. They "brought off the ship’s wireless gear which was recently installed at Sydney at a cost of £9OO, most of the ship’s stores and a good deal of portable gear from the decks. Part of the cargo of one hold apparently consisted of Christmas toys as to-day hundreds of kewpie dolls were floating round the vessel. Hardwood piles on the deck have begun to loosen and it is understood that an arrangement has been made to remove them if there is a danger of them coming adrift, as they would be a menace to shipping. To-day an attempt is being made by ajf oyster boat to remove valuable cargo.

The Bluff Waterside Workers’ Union held a special meeting yesterday and decided to work the vessel as a salvage job if requested.